Creating and Validating a Questionnaire on Dentists' Perceptions Regarding Periodontics-Prosthodontics Interdisciplinary Clinical Practice.

Abstract

Background: The interaction between prosthetic restorations and periodontal health is a critical factor for the long-term success of dental treatments. A biologically compatible prosthetic design supports periodontal stability, whereas neglecting periodontal principles can compromise treatment outcomes. This study aimed to validate a questionnaire designed to assess dentists' perceptions regarding the influence of prosthetic restorations on the periodontium. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to licensed dentists across Romania. The questionnaire underwent expert review, pilot testing (n = 50), and statistical validation, including the Content Validity Index (CVI), Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation. The final sample included 39 respondents. Data was analyzed using SPSS v26.0. Results: The questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.900; standardized alpha = 0.917). Most items had corrected item-total correlations > 0.40. EFA revealed eight coherent factors explaining 81.68% of total variance, with high communalities (0.549-0.966), strong Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (KMO) values, and significant Bartlett's test values, confirming construct validity. Descriptive statistics showed predominantly positive attitudes among dentists regarding the periodontal considerations in prosthetic treatment. The highest-rated items emphasized oral hygiene, periodontal stability, and biological adaptation of restorations. Lower scores were associated with routine use of periodontal indices and recognition of failures due to insufficient evaluation. Conclusions: The validated instrument proved reliable and demonstrated strong psychometric properties in this exploratory validation, supporting its use in research and education. Romanian dentists demonstrated a favorable perception of the role of periodontal health in prosthetic success. This tool can inform curriculum development and interdisciplinary clinical protocols in prosthodontics and periodontology.