General Dental Practitioners' and Dental Hygienists' Perspectives on the Dutch Guideline for Periodontal Screening, Diagnostics, and Treatment in General Practice.

OBJECTIVES: In January 2021, the guideline 'Periodontal Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment in General Practice' was introduced as a successor to the 'Perio Protocol'. Simultaneously, the screenings tool 'Dutch Periodontal Screening Index' (DPSI) was replaced by the 'Periodic Periodontal Screening' (PPS). The experiences of general dental practitioners (GDPs) and dental hygienists (DHs) with the new guideline were evaluated in the autumn of 2022, with a focus on the PPS and comparisons to the 'Perio Protocol.' The evaluation further aimed to assess how the new guideline contributes to more active involvement of patients in the treatment of periodontal diseases and to identify differences between GDPs and DHs regarding their experiences with the new guideline.

METHODS: Random groups of 1000 GDPs and 400 DHs were invited to complete an online questionnaire on this topic: 125 (12.5%) GDPs and 102 (25.5%) DHs responded.

RESULTS: By the end of 2022, a large majority of both GDPs and DHs were using the PPS. Both professional groups indicated that they were satisfied with the new guideline. DHs used the PPS in more cases than GDPs and were also more often satisfied with the new guideline.

CONCLUSION: The new guideline and screening tool were widely adopted and effectively utilized. Both GDPs and DHs reported satisfaction with the guideline, with DHs being slightly more positive. The guideline's clarity, flexibility, and ease of use were valued, contributing to its successful implementation. Additionally, GDPs and DHs considered the PPS an improvement over the DPSI, particularly in engaging patients in periodontal care.