title: A need to educate postmenopausal women of their periodontal health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postmenopausal women have shown proactive willingness to take responsibility for their changing health care needs. The example of osteoporosis is a model that when educated of their bone health status, this cohort follows through with prevention and treatment regimens. Postmenopausal status is considered to be a risk factor for periodontitis. It is known that up to 50% of periodontal disease goes undiagnosed. The goal of periodontal therapy is to prevent tooth loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Is there a need, then to educate and inform postmenopausal women of their periodontal status? Can dentists provide a greater service to this cohort by increasing education and information?
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study compares patient perception to actual clinical findings in 94 postmenopausal women. Patients are informed of their diagnosis, and educated about the disease, its risk factors and preventive and treatment modalities. Detailed interviews examine the patient intentions to follow up on preventive and treatment regimens suggested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 97.8% of participants reported having "healthy gums", 36.2% had severe periodontitis in at least one site. Interviews reveal that patients associated disease with abscess, and would be likely to follow prevetive and treatment regimens when they were informed of their diagnosis and educated on the topic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest a need to make education a priority when treatment postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomo
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chitguppi
authors.forename: Maria Clarinda
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Buencamino
authors.forename: Dwetta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thacker
keywords: Health education; postmenopause; risk factors