ABSTRACT:
AIM : To conduct a survey about awareness of oral medicine specialty among medical practitioners in and around Chennai . OBJECTIVE : To assess and create awareness of oral medicine specialty among medical practitioners, and assess the number of oral medicines cases that they come across in their routine practice and to assess whom they refer to. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A printed questionnaires of 100 copies were prepared and given to medical practitioners practicing in Chennai. RESULTS: Only 71% were aware about the specialties of oral medicine whereas the rest 29% were not aware about oral medicine specialty in dentistry. Moreover any oral manifestations and orofacial disorders were not been referred to dental specialties but to general dentists , general doctors.TMJ problems were referred to orthopedics, while facial pain cases were referred to general surgeon and neurologist. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that few of general practitioners were not aware about oral health and its manifestations and were referring the patients to concerned specialist.