Pre‐treatment conceptions of periodontal disease and treatment in periodontal referrals

BACKGROUND: Patients preconceptions of periodontal therapy have not been extensively studied and are poorly understood. AIMS: To register specific anxieties and preconceptions held by patients referred for specialist periodontal treatment and to investigate the risks such patients were prepared to take of progressive periodontal problems before deciding that periodontal treatment was necessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 79 patients referred for specialist treatment completed a structured questionnaire. Participants completed visual analogue scales to quantify the risks which they were prepared to take of various symptoms of periodontal disease before they believed treatment was essential. RESULTS: The majority (71%) had anxieties about pending treatment with the main concern being pain. Those who had sought information prior to treatment mainly did so from close relatives. The majority of patients opted to take no or a very low (<20%) risk of any periodontal problems and, therefore, were supportive of treatment. The loss of many teeth due to periodontal disease was the least acceptable outcome followed by tooth mobility. Patients were prepared to accept a significantly higher risk of bleeding on brushing (p<0.0001) than any of the other outcomes investigated. Females recorded substantially lower risk scores than males particularly in relation to developing recession or tooth mobility in the absence of treatment. Patients who were worried about experiencing pain during treatment recorded lower risk scores than those who had no anxiety regarding pain. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the Norwegian periodontal referrals studied were prepared to take very low risks of further periodontal symptoms despite high levels of anxiety and evidence of a lack of knowledge regarding periodontal treatment.