Implant therapy in a higher education institution: changes or paradigms?

Abstract

Since the 1970, dental rehabilitation of partially or totally edentulous patients has been an increasingly used practice, due to improved materials and methods and high rates of survival and success. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate patients from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Passo Fundo, between 2015 and 2018, with indication and installation of dental implants. Material and methods: Data on age and gender of the patients, indication and region of the implants, technique, type of connection and shape of the implants, bone density, need for grafting and image modality used for surgical planning were collected from dentistry records. Results: In total, 55 patients and 105 implants were evaluated. The age group ranged from 21 to 82 years, and women were the majority group (64%). Among the implant indications, 71% of the patients had only one tooth missing, and the lower first molars comprised most of the implants performed (21%). The conventional surgical technique was the most used (86%), as well as the cylindrical shape cone morse model. Conclusion: The proper selection of indications for implants seeks to be based on scientific evidence, and the protocols are essential to achieve high success rates.