Knowledge and attitude of dental students regarding etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of peri-implantitis

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of dental students about the etiology, diagnosis, and management of peri-implantitis. Methods: An online cross-sectional study that targeted senior undergraduate dental students at the College of Dentistry was conducted. A closed-ended survey consisting of 28 questions was designed. Three sections were created: 1) participants' characteristics; 2) Knowledge of peri-implantitis etiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and complications; 3) The use of antibiotics in peri-implantitis, diagnosis, and treatment methods. SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp.) was used for data analysis. Counts and percentages were calculated for correct answers in each section. Results: A total of 267 dental students responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the participants (81.6%) were knowledgeable about peri-implantitis being an inflammatory reaction, and a lesser percentage (77.9%) knew that bacterial plaque is an etiologic factor for peri-implant diseases. 82.0% of the participants identified smoking as a risk factor, followed by periodontitis (80.5%). Regarding implant complications, 57.3% of the participants considered implant mobility as a definitive indication for implant removal. More than half of the participants reported using crater-like bone defects surrounding implants to diagnose peri-implantitis. The most commonly used antibiotic was amoxicillin (34.1%), followed by amoxicillin combined with metronidazole (26.9%). Conclusion: Most participants had a basic understanding of the etiology and risk factors of peri-implantitis. On the other hand, more courses addressing peri-implantitis diagnosis are needed.