Perception and misconceptions of patients about dental scaling treatment: a cross-sectional study

Background: People postpone periodontal treatment due to a fear of pain, misconceptions or a traumatic event in the past. The study aimed to determine the perception and misconceptions among patients about the dental scaling treatment.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January ۲۰۲۲ to October ۲۰۲۲ on ۳۱۰ participants who reported to the periodontology department of private and public dental institutes, using a questionnaire developed and validated by the authors. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS. The Chi-Square test was used to compare categorical variables. p-value less than or equal to ۰.۰۵ was taken as significant. Results: More than half of the participants had the wrong idea about the purpose and frequency of dental scaling. A total of (n=۷۵, ۲۴.۲%) of respondents believed it was a harmful procedure, and almost half (n=۱۴۷, ۴۷.۴%) got this knowledge from their relatives or observation (n=۹۵, ۳۰.۶%). Many who have been to the dentist previously think of scaling as harmful. The participants who believed that bleeding during brushing is normal were (n=۸۷, ۲۸.۱%), while (n=۱۱۹, ۳۸.۴%) thought that medicated toothpaste alone is enough for solving gingival problems.Conclusion: Most of the participants were unaware of the purpose, benefits and frequency of dental scaling and considered it to be a harmful procedure. Those who had been to the dentist had more misconceptions. The primary source of misinformation was through personal experience and from relatives or friends. Lack of communication and patient education about the transient outcomes of dental scaling were the primary factors that led to these myths and misconceptions.

Keywords:

Dental Scaling , dentists , Perception , Periodontal Diseases