Perception of Undergraduates and Postgraduates of the Scope of Periodontics Niyas F. Mariyam1, Arjunkumar Radhika2,* 1Graduate Student, Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India 2Reader, Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India *Corresponding Author: Radhika Arjunkumar Reader, Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Saveetha University, Chennai-600077, Tamil Nadu, India Phone: +919884281681, Email: radhikaarjunkumar@gmail.com
Online published on 19 August, 2019. Abstract Background and Aim Periodontology is a fast evolving field where newer insights into existing concepts are changing the face of the traditional periodontal treatment. Constant research is taking place so as to develop a number of newer avenues in the treatment of the periodontal diseases. However, the protocol of management of periodontal diseases in the setup of general dental practice has undergone little change over the last decade. How do dental professionals view the scope of the specialty of periodontology? The aim of this study is to use a rank-order survey to determine the scope of periodontology according to undergraduates and postgraduates. Method and Materials Based on a previous study in which respondents were asked to list the answers to the question, ‘‘Who is a Periodontist?’’ The results were consolidated into eight statements. The eight statements were placed into a rank-order online survey. The responses primarily came from undergraduate dental students, interns, general dental practitioners and postgraduates of various departments. Result Undergraduates defined the scope of this practice by stating that the two most important aspects are surgical treatment of periodontitis and promotion of research towards better understanding of periodontal health and its relation with systemic diseases. The least important statement was that ‘‘Periodontists are educators promoting health.’’ Postgraduates perceive the specialty of periodontology differently than undergraduates in that they ranked surgical treatment and the esthetic surgical procedures as the two most important. Conclusion This study shows that there are differences between the two groups of respondents. With the information shown here, communication with a periodontist regarding their scope in the field, both undergraduates and postgraduates of other specialties will become knowledgeable and have a high diagnostic acuity. Top Keywords Undergraduates, Postgraduates, Data analysis, Esthetics, Implant, Periodontics. Top |