Variations in Periodontal Diagnosis Among Clinicians: dental hygienists' experiences and perceived barriers.

Research indicates clinicians face barriers when attempting to utilize evidence-based protocols for periodontal disease and periodontal disease diagnosis often varies between dental providers. The purpose of this study was to identify and better understand dental hygienists' perceived barriers and experiences during the process of diagnosing periodontal disease in clinical practice. This study used a qualitative design and a purposive sample of dental hygienists (n=20).