Oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago, type of management, and interest in continuing education in oral diseases.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey of registered medical practitioners in Trinidad. 20-item self-reported questionnaire.


RESULTS
103 medical practitioners participated in the study (response rate 69%). Mean age 33 years. Mean years since qualifying was 8 years and 72% worked mainly in hospital service or private practice (19%); 67% had seen patients with a dental problems, with 69% of those at least as frequently as once a month. Most frequently seen problems were dental abscess (72.5%) and toothache (59.4%). In the case of dental abscess and oral mucosal infection 31.9% and 63.8% respectively, diagnosed and treated before referring. 84% cent expressed interest in receiving continuing education in oral diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
In the context of access to oral care in Trinidad and Tobago, medical practitioners appear to be important providers and may benefit from further training in the diagnosis and management of oral diseases.
Naidu
R S
RS
School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mount Hope, Trinidad, West Indies. rahul@trinidad.net
Juman
S
S
Rafeek
R N
RN
Singh
R
R
Maharaj
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014098:Toothache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago