Background: Approaches to patient care consistent with a greater emphasis on the importance of risk factors associated with periodontal disease should include measures to reduce risk. In this article, we investigate the extent to which periodontists' and general practice dentists' (GPs) behaviors and attitudes reflect current understanding of the most important environmental risk factor for periodontitis (smoking) and the most important systemic disease risk factor for periodontitis (diabetes mellitus).

Methods: A mail survey of active periodontists and GPs in the Northeastern United States was conducted during the fall of 2002. Random samples of periodontists and GPs listed in the designated Northeastern states were drawn from the 2002 American Academy of Periodontology Directory and the 2001 American Dental Directory, respectively. Responses were received from 103 periodontists (for a response rate of 73%) and from 105 GPs (for a response rate of 80%).

Results: Although periodontists generally perform risk identification and management behaviors for patients who smoke or who have diabetes more frequently than GPs, both groups tend to engage in activities that inquire, discuss, and inform more than they tend to undertake measures to control or manage these risk factors. Rates of proactive patient management activities are quite low in both clinician groups.

Conclusions: There is a need to increase periodontists' and GPs' involvement in the active management of the patient who smokes and in the diabetic patient. Such actions can be expected to result in improved periodontal and general health outcomes.