Awareness of periodontal diseases: the professional and the civil servant

Newly qualified dentists and dental hygienists should have a good level of awareness of periodontal diseases. However, for a variety of reasons this k nowledge may not be regularly updated or applied in practice. This paper co nsiders how professional awareness can be influenced by such factors as: ma intaining an up to date understanding of the nature of periodontal diseases , the routine use of appropriate screening and examination techniques, fact ors influencing assessment of treatment need, patient records, continuing p rofessional education and an understanding of patient expectations. It goes on to describe how civil servants may help to stimulate improvements in aw areness levels to periodontal diseases by promoting continuing education, e pidemiological research and national oral health strategies as well as thro ugh legislation and regulation. The paper concludes that although a range o f organisations can promote improvements in professional awareness, unless simultaneous efforts are made to improve the awareness of the general publi c to periodontal diseases, it is difficult to see how there can be an impro vement in the periodontal health of the population.