Survey of Kansas and Missouri General Dentists Identifying Periodontal Referral Patterns

This investigation surveyed general dentists from Kansas and Missouri to identify factors which may impact how likely they are to refer to periodontists. The web-based survey probed areas of clinician demographics, practice location and characteristics, and periodontal treatment philosophy to see how those domains influenced referrals made to periodontists. Through the Kansas Dental Association (KDA) and the Missouri Dental Association (MDA), 2,819 potential recipients were contacted, yielding 221 responses. Dentists who practiced with at least one other dentist were more likely to refer (p=0.001) as were dentists who employed more than one hygienist (p=0.020). Offices that frequently provided scaling and root planing were more apt to refer (p<0.000). Those who expressed an interest in teledentistry reported referring less (p=0.032), indicating that supporting advancement of teledentistry may increase periodontal referrals. Therefore, factors in practice characteristics as well as periodontal treatment philosophy appear to influence periodontal referral patterns.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (UMKC)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• McKenzie, Cassandra Collins

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Walker, Mary P.
• Simmer-Beck, Melanie

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/60499

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/60499