Knowledge of General Dental Practitioners in Shiraz about Dental Considerations in Cardiac Patients

With increasing advances in medical science and increasing longevity of people, the number of the elderly and patients with cardiovascular diseases, referring to dental offices, has increased significantly. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of general dental practitioners about dental considerations in cardiac patients in Shiraz, Iran.

In a descriptive and analytical study, 217 general dentists, selected randomly, were questioned. The participants completed a questionnaire consisting of eleven questions. Data was then collected, coded, and analyzed with SPSS 18 using t-test and one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05).

Of all the 217 participants, 52% were male, and 48% were female. The average score was 6.29. The average knowledge score was higher in participants having graduated from domestic universities compared with those having studied abroad. The rate of knowledge decreased with aging and an increase in working years. The rates of knowledge were high in 25%, medium in 55%, and low in 20%.

This study showed that the knowledge of general dental practitioners in Shiraz was not sufficient about dental considerations in cardiac patients. Therefore, continuing education programs are necessary to enhance their knowledge.