Patient choice of primary care practitioner for orofacial symptoms

Abstract

Objective: To determine patients' preferences regarding consultation of medical or dental practitioners for various orofacial symptoms, including patients' perceptions of practitioners' training and ability to diagnose and treat these symptoms. Method: Patients attending oral and maxillofacial clinics in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland in relation to a variety of complaints were invited to complete a questionnaire. Results: From a sample size of 254 patients, 220 correctly completed questionnaires were received. This showed 69% of patients regarded medical practitioners as being better trained to diagnose and treat non-dental orofacial symptoms. Eighty percent of patients regarded medical practitioners as being more accessible when booking an appointment. Seventy-eight percent of patients did not regard charges for dental care as being an important factor when deciding which practitioner they should consult. Conclusion: Despite the significant differences between medical and dental practitioners in undergraduate and postgraduate training in orofacial disease, most patients would choose to visit a medical rather than dental practitioner. While these results suggest the need for postgraduate educational support for medical practitioners in treating orofacial pain and oral mucosal disease, they also imply a need for change in the concept of provision of oral healthcare by general dental practitioners. © 2008 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.