Knowledge, Attitude and Acceptance of Dental Implants among Patients Attending Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants is considered as a positive experience by patients. Dental implants are widely accepted as a prosthetic treatment of completely or partially edentulous patients. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and acceptance of Sudanese dental patients regarding dental implant as a treatment modality for replacing missing teeth. ` Subjects and Methods: Descriptive cross sectional hospital based study among 384 adult males and females' patients attended outpatient dental clinics in Khartoum dental teaching hospital in period from 1 st April to 1 st May 2013. Eligible participants were selected by convenience sampling technique. Questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge, attitude and acceptance of Dental implant as treatment option for replacement of missing teeth. Associated factors; gender, socioeconomic status, level of education, sources of information about implants was assessed using chi square test with P value ˂ 0.05. Results: The important of replacing missing teeth was revealed by 74% of the Participants, 68.5% of the participants were aware about dental implant as treatment option regarding replacing missing teeth, Of the total participants; 56.8% didn't know how dental implant lasts, more than half (53.1%) of the surveyed patients did not know the place where the implant inserted. Majority (79.4%) could accept their dentist advice for replacement of missing teeth by implant, but 29.1% said expensiveness was main barrier against this option. Knowledge about dental implant is significantly associated with level of education (P = 0.00) Conclusion: Considerable number of patients accepted and aware of dental implant as treatment option for replacing missing teeth. Relatives and friends were the main sources of information about dental implant.