Assessment of Expectation, Attitude and Preconceptions in a Group Patient Applying for Dental Implant Treatment

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate expectation, attitude, and preconceptions regarding dental implant therapy among a selected sample group of dental patients who applied for implant treatment.Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out using a questionnaire with 132 patients who applied for implant treatment. The study questionnaire contained 20 multiple-choice questions on the patients’ demographics, sources of information, knowledge, attitude, expectations, and related factors regarding dental implant treatment.Results: Majority of the patients stated that they did not have enough knowledge about implant treatment procedure to be applied. Of the patients, 23.5% thought that the implant would be used for a lifetime, 56.8% thought that post-implant care should be like the natural teeth care, 36.4% stated that implants need more care than natural teeth. They stated that the major disadvantages of implant treatment were the high cost (53.0%), difficulty in treatment (28.0%), and long treatment time (18.9%). It was determined that the main reason for the delay was the high cost of the treatment. As education level rose, the preference for a removable denture decreased (p<0.05)Conclusion: According to the results we obtained from a limited sample, patients may have misinformation and incomplete expectation about implant therapy. Informing and educating the patients is very important for deciding which treatment to pursue and setting realistic patient expectations regarding treatment outcomes.