Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practice: Oral Health Awareness in Adults at a Riyadh Tertiary Hospital

Background: Preventive dentistry remains essential for sustaining oral health, yet uneven knowledge and variable practices continue to challenge communities globally. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate oral health knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors among adult attendees of dental clinics within a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: From March to June 2025, a structured descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out, enrolling 384 adult patients through systematic random sampling. Data were gathered via a pre-validated questionnaire assessing sociodemographic variables, oral health knowledge, attitudes toward prevention, and reported preventive practices. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics and differences were tested using chi-square analysis. Results: A substantial 78.1% of respondents correctly identified fluoride as caries preventive, and 84.9% valued regular dental reviews. However, only 41.4% recognized gum bleeding as an early periodontal warning. Although 86.7% endorsed the importance of preventive visits, only 48.4% adhered to an annual check-up schedule. Higher educational attainment and being female correlated with improved knowledge scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The adult population in Riyadh exhibits a sound general awareness of preventive oral health; nevertheless, significant deficits in periodontal disease identification and adherence to preventive visits persist. Tailored educational interventions are essential to translate knowledge into regular preventive practice.