Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of General Dentists Towards Geriatric Dentistry in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background:
The need for specialised geriatric dental treatment has increased due to the global increase in the older population. However, a lack of experience and training in dentistry may make general dentists less equipped to treat elderly patients.

Objective:
To analyse the practices, attitudes, and understanding of geriatric dentistry of general dentists in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia, as well as the factors that affect their preparedness to treat senior patients.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 general dentists with at least one year of experience who were selected through cluster and systematic random sampling. Data were collected from March to June 2025 via a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising four sections: demographics, knowledge (27 items), attitudes (17 items), and practices (7 items), along with a facility checklist. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used for analysis, with significance set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:
The majority of the participants were female (61.1%) and had 5–15 years of experience (42.5%). Dentists demonstrated moderate knowledge (mean scores: 12.2–14.2/30) and attitudes (50.2–57.3/85) toward geriatric dentistry. Only 6.1% preferred treating elderly patients, and 47.6% were willing to pursue further training. Surprisingly, dentists treating fewer elderly patients had higher knowledge scores (P = 0.025). A significant positive correlation existed between close grandparent relationships and attitude scores (P = 0.015), and a strong willingness to train was correlated with more favorable attitudes (P < 0.001). However, the overall correlations between knowledge, attitudes, and practices were weak.

Conclusion:
General dentists exhibit moderate readiness to manage elderly patients, with limited clinical exposure and interest. Enhancing geriatric content in dental curricula and promoting targeted continuing education are essential to improve the quality of care for the aging population.