KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF PATIENTS TOWARDS DENTAL IMPLANT AT ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE OF DENTISTRY, PAKISTAN

Knowledge Toward Dental Implants

Abstract

Objective: Assessment of the patient knowledge and attitude towards dental Implants at a tertiary care dental hospital.
Study Design: A cross sectional descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi from Jan 2014 to Jun 2014.
Material and Methods: A survey was conducted on 150 partially dentate male and female patients having age 20 years and above using a self-explanatory questionnaire. Completely dentate and edentulous patients were excluded in study. Age and gender of the patients were noted. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0. Frequencies of age, knowledge, sources and limiting factors were calculated.
Results: Sixty percent of the patients were aware of dental implants. Dentists were the main sources of information regarding the dental implants followed by friends and relatives. A majority of patients (65%) had objection on the cost of implant therapy. Major disadvantage and deterrent to implant therapy were cost and surgery.
Conclusion: The study showed that most of the patients were aware of dental implants. Dentists and electronic advertising media plays an important role in educating patients about dental implants. Cost was a major limitation in provision of dental implants.