Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42778914›Full record

ArticleBMC oral health2026

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding periodontal assessment and co-management during orthodontic care among Moroccan dentists: a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Abdelhadi Hbibi, Siham Halal, Khadija Sikkou, Momen Atieh, Souhail Ben Jelloun, Amine Cherkaoui, Sonia Ghoul, Yasmine Hanine, Ghita Kadri

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Article in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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9 authors.

Abdelhadi HbibiDepartment of Periodontology, International Faculty of Dental Medicine, Research Center of Health Sciences (CReSS), College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala-Al Jadida, Morocco. Abdelhadi.hbibi@uir.ac.ma.ORCID 0000-0002-8115-388X
Siham HalalDepartment of Orthodontics, International Faculty of Dental Medicine, Research Center of Health Sciences (CReSS), College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala-Al Jadida, Morocco.
Khadija SikkouInternational Faculty of Dental Medicine, Research Center of Health Sciences (CReSS), College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala-Al Jadida, Morocco.ORCID 0000-0001-6307-6617
Momen AtiehOral Implantology Research Group, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-4019-9491
Souhail Ben JellounInternational Faculty of Dental Medicine, College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala-Al Jadida, Morocco.
Amine CherkaouiDepartment of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine of Rabat, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.
Sonia GhoulInternational Faculty of Dental Medicine, Research Center of Health Sciences (CReSS), International University of Rabat (UIR), Sala-Al Jadida, Morocco.ORCID 0000-0003-1460-8191
Yasmine HanineDepartment of Periodontology, International Faculty of Dental Medicine, Research Center of Health Sciences (CReSS), College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala-Al Jadida, Morocco.
Ghita KadriDepartment of Odontological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco.ORCID 0000-0002-5084-5664

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPeriodontal diseases are common chronic inflammatory conditions that may compromise the planning, safety, and outcomes of orthodontic treatment, particularly in adults and in patients with reduced periodontal support. In such patients, orthodontic care requires accurate periodontal diagnosis, confirmation of disease stability before treatment initiation, careful biomechanical adaptation, and close coordination with periodontal maintenance. However, the extent to which dentists providing orthodontic care integrate these principles into routine practice remains insufficiently documented, particularly in North African settings. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Moroccan dentists providing orthodontic care regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with periodontal diseases.

methodsA nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Morocco between September 2025 and February 2026. Eligible participants were dentists practicing orthodontics exclusively or within general practice. The questionnaire included demographic variables, 8 knowledge items, and 9 attitude/practice items covering diagnosis, screening, treatment timing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and periodontal maintenance. Item-level descriptives used available-case denominators. Knowledge (0-7), attitude (0-2), practice (0-6), and total KAP (0-15) scores were calculated. Associations with periodontitis-case management were explored using logistic regression; correlates of KAP scores were examined using linear regression, with candidate variables selected from univariable analyses (p < 0.20).

resultsOf 418 platform entries, 118 blank entries were excluded; 300 practitioners from 11 regions provided at least 1 valid response, including 190 complete questionnaires. Only 18.3% correctly defined periodontitis and 46.3% identified the radiographic criterion for bone loss, whereas 81.1% recognized apical displacement of the center of resistance and 70.4% identified intrusion as the movement associated with bone gain. Pre-orthodontic periodontal screening was reported by 63.0%, but systematic full-mouth 6-site probing by only 16.5%. Among periodontitis cases, 44.4% reported formal periodontal stability confirmation before treatment initiation and 35.9% waited 3 months after active periodontal therapy. Median knowledge, attitude, and total scores were 2 (interquartile range (IQR) 0-3)/7, 1 (IQR 0-1)/2, and 6 (IQR 1-7)/15; mean practice score was 2.36 ± 1.25/6. A total of 84.0% expressed a need for continuing education.

conclusionsMoroccan dentists showed suboptimal ortho-periodontal performance, with limited comprehensive periodontal assessment and variable interdisciplinary coordination. Training should prioritize periodontal diagnosis, full-mouth assessment, and structured co-management pathways.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelDentistsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeOrthodonticsPeriodontal DiseasesPractice Patterns, Dentists'AdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMoroccoSurveys and QuestionnairesCross-sectional studiesDecision makingDentistsHealth knowledge, attitudes, practicePeriodontitisReferral and consultationSurveys and questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID42778914
PMCPMC13602505

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.