Main Article Content
Knowledge and attitude to dental implant placement amongst a group of Nigerian dentists
Abstract
Background: The perceptions and experiences of dentists from different specialties on the use of dental implant and its applications can be instrumental in its use exhaustively.
Objectives: To determine the opinions and experiences of a population of Nigerian dentists towards dental implant.
Methods: Data for the study were collated using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the familiarity of the participants with various implant systems, their designs, sizes and loading as well as the provision of replacement for missing teeth.
Result: The estimated functional life of an implant was reported to be less than 5 years by 2.5% of the respondents; 5 to 10 years by 11.3% of the respondents; 10 to 20 years by 26.3% and more than 20 years by 28.7% of the respondents while 31.3% had no idea about the estimated functional life of an implant. Exposure and experience with dental implants were low as only 30.0% of the respondents had attended any dental implant course/training with 95.0% of the respondents expressing the opinion that they did not have enough training in dental implantology.
Conclusion: The exposure and experience with dental implants was low among the respondents.
Keywords: Dental implant; Dentist; Knowledge.