Introduction:

Periodontal diseases are caused by an inadequate oral health, and to prevent them, gum care is essential.

Objective:

To specify the perception of affected patients about this disease in order to support the systematization of the theoretical bases directed to the preparation in the subject of students of stomatology and comprehensive general stomatologists in training.

Method:

A descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in the Stomatological Teaching Clinic "Julio A. Mella", a branch of the University of Medical Sciences of Guantanamo. Twenty-five patients with diagnosis of periodontal disease were surveyed to as cert a in their perception of the disease. The results were summarized by means of absolute frequencies and expressed in tables. Results: it was common that patients revealed an un favor able opinion regarding the following topics: absolute lack of knowledge about this disease (n=22), insufficient posture of the patients about gum self-care (n=22) and dissatisfaction with educational actions in terms of prevention (n=14).

Conclusions:

Patients reveal an inadequate perception of periodontal disease which supports the systematization of the theoretical bases for the understanding of the need to develop in them a culture of gum care for a good periodontal health. Furthermore, the value of the stomatologist, the family, the school, the media and the community as social agents responsible for the education of the population in terms of the prevention of periodontal diseases is reiterated.

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