Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Dental Professionals and Students Toward Traditional and Complementary Medicine: A Cross‐Sectional Study

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PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) has gained global recognition, and Turkey officially regulates 15 TCM practices within its healthcare system. Despite increasing interest, the knowledge and attitudes of dental professionals and students remain underexplored; this study aims to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward TCM among dental students, general practitioner dentists (GPDs), and dental specialists in Turkey. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted and distributed online and through institutional networks which assessed knowledge of 15 TCM modalities, attitudinal dispositions, and perspectives on curricular integration. Eligible participants included actively practicing GPDs, dental specialists, and fourth- and fifth-year dental students. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of 283 respondents, 267 valid responses were analysed (64% dental students, 22.1% specialists, 13.9% dentists). Acupuncture (83.1%) was the most recognized modality, while maggot therapy (16.5%) was least known. Overall, participants expressed generally positive attitudes toward TCM, acknowledging its potential role in dentistry and healthcare. Significant intergroup differences emerged regarding the appropriateness of acupuncture recommendations (p < 0.001), osteopathy perceptions (p = 0.048), placebo attribution (p < 0.001), and curricular integration (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Dental professionals and students in Turkey demonstrate favourable but variable perceptions of TCM. Findings highlight the need for evidence-based educational initiatives and curricular integration to ensure safe, informed, and consistent application of TCM in dentistry.

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