| Abstract [eng] |
Relevance of the problem and aim of the work. Periodontal diseases are widespread and affect not only oral health but also overall well-being and quality of life, remaining a significant public health concern. Limited periodontal knowledge may contribute to inadequate oral hygiene, difficulty to recognize early disease signs, and greater reliance on myths or unreliable information. Currently, systematic investigations examining periodontal health–related myths have not been undertaken in Lithuania. The aim of this study is to investigate the periodontal knowledge and beliefs in myths among patients attending the Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University and to compare these data with sociodemographic and clinical indicators. Material and methods. From February 20 to October 10, 2025, a cross-sectional study was conducted among adults receiving periodontal treatment at the Institute of Dentistry. Participation was confirmed by verbal and written informed consent. The calculated required sample size was 385 respondents. During the study, anonymous questionnaires were collected, and clinical data were documented during examinations. The data were analyzed using statistical software (IBM SPSS, Microsoft Excel). Results were considered statistically significant when the p-value was < 0.05. Results. The study included 385 respondents, of whom 175 (45.5%) were women and 210 (54.5%) were men. Questionnaires were completed in Lithuanian by 305 participants (79.2%) and in English by 80 (20.8%). The results showed that knowledge about the periodontium and periodontal diseases is insufficient and that almost half of the respondents (48%) believed myths about periodontal diseases. Participants with low knowledge and belief in myths were significantly more likely to be aged 60+ (p<0.001; p<0.01, respectively), economically inactive (both p<0.001), and have low–medium education (p<0.01; p<0.001, respectively). The proportion of respondents from small towns and rural areas was also significantly higher in these groups (both p<0.001). They were also more often first-time visitors for treatment and oral hygiene (each p<0.001), had poor oral hygiene (both p<0.001), and were diagnosed with generalized periodontitis (both p<0.001). Disbelief in myths was significantly more common among high-knowledge respondents (p<0.001), whereas belief in myths predominated among low-knowledge respondents (p<0.001). Conclusions. Participants attending the Institute of Dentistry demonstrated belief in myths and insufficient knowledge of periodontal health, which were significantly associated with older age, lower education, economic inactivity, residence in small towns or rural areas, poorer oral hygiene indicators, and more severe periodontal diagnoses. In contrast, respondents with a high level of knowledge and disbelief in myths were associated with opposite sociodemographic factors, better oral hygiene, and more favorable periodontal diagnoses. The study results confirm that systematic and targeted patient education is necessary for effective prevention of periodontal diseases. |
