Factors which determine implant selection: Dentist’s perspective

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the selection criteria for dental implant systems used by implantologists in the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai area, as well as to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and comprehension of these criteria.

Material and Methods: A Google form (online questionnaire) was designed for this purpose. A personal WhatsApp account was used to send the questionnaire. A total of 19 questions made up the survey. Each question was composed of attributes of the implant system that the dentist would rate on a linear scale. One of these 19 questions included 12 distinct parameters that might help with implant system selection.  Incomplete questionnaires were not considered. All valid responses were statistically evaluated.

Result: The questionnaire was sent to 810 participants, of which 403 responded (response rate 50.2%). Due to insufficient data, 3 responses were disregarded. Our study revealed that 62.7% were specialists and 20.3% were general dentists (periodontists (20.3%), prosthodontists (16.3%), oral surgeons (16.3%), and others 10.8%). The prosthetic and surgical parts of implants were practised by 67.82% of respondents. The majority of respondents (68%) rated scientific evidence supporting implants as the most crucial factor in choosing an implant system. This was followed by implant geometry (67.3%), connections between implants and abutments (66%) and ease of prosthetic procedures (65.8%). Platform Switching (78.8%), aesthetics in the anterior region (69.3%), and prosthesis type (screw retained) were identified to be the additional parameters that were most crucial for implant selection.

Conclusion: Study results showed that scientific evidence supporting implants was the most important criterion followed by implant geometry, implant-abutment connection, and simplicity of prosthetic procedure. Other major selection criteria included Platform Switching, aesthetics in the anterior region, and type of prosthesis (screw retained).