A Questionnaire Survey of Current Trends in Oral Implantology Practice in Post Graduate Prosthodontic Programs among various Dental Colleges in India

Abstract

Aim : To know the current trends of oral implantology practice in post graduate prosthodontic programs among various dental colleges of India. Methodology: An online questionnaire form having 17 questions were e-mailed to 182 Head of the Department of Prosthodontics of the Dental colleges of India running post graduate program in the subject of prosthodontics. All the filled up forms were saved in google spreadsheet and were analyzed by using suitable descriptive statistics. All responses remained anonymous throughout the survey. Result: A total of 112 (61.53%) questionnaire forms were answered. 88.39% participants favored the use of dental implant as a treatment modality for rehabilitation of missing teeth. 97.32% chose threaded implant design, 48.21% preferred 4 implants supported mandibular overdenture. 44.64% chose Locator type of attachment for overdenture. 69.64% favored open tray impression technique and 62.5% favored polyether as impression material. 70.53% preferred cement retained prosthesis while 29.46% preferred screw retained prosthesis. 77.67% participants preferred long implants with sinus lift rather than short implants. 57.14% considered mounted casts, IOPA X rays, OPG X rays and CT Scan all together for treatment planning. 85.71% reported that surgical stents made using navigation system is not a necessity in every case. 92.85% participants feel the need to have standardization of implant surgical kit. 53.57% participants preferred splinting of adjacent implant while 45.61% did not prefer splinting. 69.64%) participants reported that single piece implant should be restricted to the anterior zone when the amount of bone available is adequate. Only 64.28% accept that the concept of immediate loading of implant is good. 65.17% preferred direct sinus floor elevation. Conclusion: Dental implants are the most preferred treatment modality for the replacement of missing teeth. The present study concluded that the choice of threaded implant design, use of standardized implant surgical kit, using longer implants with direct sinus lift procedure, making impression using open-tray technique with polyether impression material and cement retained restorations were preferred over by majority of the participants. There were mixed opinion regarding the splinting of two or more adjacent implants. Further, most of participants believed that the use of single piece implant should be restricted to the anterior zone and the concept of immediate loading is good.