Exploring the knowledge of oral health and nutrition among Saudi Arabian dental professionals: a nationwide survey

Sameena Parveen; Syeda Arshiya Ara; Reghunathan S Preethanath; Samar Saeed Khan; Hind Ali Osman; Husham E Homeida; Ogail Yousif Dawod; Abdulrahman A Alsayegh; Abdullah Y Otayf; Mohammed Bajahzer; Nahid Mahmoud Hassan Elamin

doi:10.1186/s12903-024-05363-7

Exploring the knowledge of oral health and nutrition among Saudi Arabian dental professionals: a nationwide survey

BMC Oral Health. 2024 Dec 23;24(1):1543. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-05363-7.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AlBadar Dental College and Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. drarshiya@albadardentalcollege.org.
³ Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Physical Therapy, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, 82817, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: The association between diet and oral health is complex, yet understanding the influence of nutrition on oral health among dental professionals is limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge levels of dental professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding the relationship between diet and oral health.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 211 dental professionals in Saudi Arabia using an 18-item questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v23.0. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the mean, standard deviation (SD), and proportions. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test assessed data normality, while the Chi-squared test and post-hoc Tukey analysis were applied to evaluate associations between variables.

Results: The findings revealed that female practitioners (mean = 13.41, SD = 2.85) and older professionals had higher knowledge levels, with a total mean score of 12.33 (SD = 2.93). Significant correlations were observed between knowledge scores and age (ANOVA: F = 2.874; p = 0.024) and between knowledge scores and gender (t-test: t = 6.68, p < 0.001). Oral Medicine Specialists and Periodontists had the highest knowledge scores, with mean scores of 13.43 (SD = 2.87) and 13.63 (SD = 2.66), respectively, while General Dentists scored lower (mean = 10.49, SD = 3.12; ANOVA: F = 4.462; p < 0.001). Practitioners with less than five years of experience had significantly lower knowledge scores (mean = 11.14, SD = 3.23) compared to those with 5-10 years (mean = 13.40, SD = 2.34) and over 20 years of experience (mean = 12.69, SD = 2.22) (ANOVA: F = 5.016; p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Our findings reveal that dental professionals in Saudi Arabia have varying knowledge regarding the relationship between diet and oral health. While awareness exists, there are gaps in understanding the nutritional factors influencing oral health outcomes. Addressing these knowledge gaps through targeted educational interventions is essential, given the crucial role dental professionals play in promoting oral health and educating patients on the importance of nutrition. Enhancing this knowledge will improve patient care and contribute to better community health outcomes through informed preventive strategies and public health initiatives.

Keywords: Awareness; Dental professionals; Knowledge; Nutrition; Oral health; Saudi Arabia.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dentists* / psychology
Diet
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oral Health*
Saudi Arabia
Surveys and Questionnaires