Knowledge and Clinical Management of Arterial Hypertension in Dental Practice: A Comparative Binational...

Undiagnosed or uncontrolled arterial hypertension is frequent among adults who attend dental clinics. Since some of these patients have limited contact with primary care, the dental visit can offer a practical opportunity for blood pressure (BP) screening and referral when needed.

A binational online cross-sectional survey was conducted using Google Forms among dental professionals, academic staff, and students in Spain (2024-2025) and Chile (2025). The questionnaire addressed hypertension-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported clinical behaviour. Country-level comparisons were analysed using chi-square or Fisher exact tests, and subgroup analyses were based on the professional and educational categories recorded in each national dataset.

A total of 597 participants completed the survey (Spain, n = 389; Chile, n = 208). Compared with Spanish respondents, Chilean respondents more often considered BP measurement important (91.8% vs. 84.1%; p = 0.008), reported having a sphygmomanometer available (82.2% vs. 60.9%; p < 0.001), and measured BP in every patient (17.0% vs. 6.2%; p < 0.001). Never measuring BP before treatment was reported by 24.7% of Spanish respondents and 12.1% of Chilean respondents (p < 0.001). In Spain, professional/educational status was associated with several outcomes (all p ≤ 0.017); in Chile, BP measurement frequency differed significantly by professional role (p < 0.001).

Both cohorts recognised the relevance of hypertension in dental care, but routine BP measurement was not consistently integrated into practice. The findings support the need for clearer undergraduate training, standardised chairside protocols, and workable referral pathways.