Pacientų informuotumas apie dantų implantų priežiūrą ir sąsajas su burnos priežiūros įpročiais ir burnos sveikata

Abstract

Many patients do not perform adequate individual oral hygiene after dental implantation due to the formation of inappropriate habits or a lack of knowledge about implant care (Abbasi Begum Meer Rownaq Ali et al., 2023). For these reasons, soft and hard plaques accumulate, gingivitis forms, and alveolar bone dissolves. Complications of the dental implant, perimucositis and periimplantitis, may begin, resulting in the loss of the dental implant (Rudeejaraswan et al., 2023). Informing the patient and changing bad habits are very important factors for preserving the dental implant. General dentists claim that they play an important role in the oral health care of patients with dental implants, but their clinical practice does not always bear this out (Cheung et al., 2021). Studies show that patients who only use a toothbrush for oral care have a higher risk of developing dental implant complications than those who use additional oral care products (Hopcraft et al., 2021). To reach the research aim, a qualitative research method was chosen, a written survey by filling in a questionnaire. An examination using simplified OHI-s and GI indices was also applied, with the help of which the informant’s oral hygiene and gingivitis conditions were determined. 10 participants took part in the research. After analysing the awareness of the research participants about the care of dental implants and the connections with oral health, it was found that the knowledge of four informants about the care of dental implants is good or average. Still, the state of oral hygiene is satisfactory, and they have moderate gingivitis. Five informants have satisfactory knowledge of dental implant care, of which three participants have poor oral hygiene and moderate or severe gingivitis. The rest have satisfactory oral hygiene and moderate gingivitis. Analysing the relationship between informants’ oral hygiene habits and oral health, the habits of six study participants are satisfactory, resulting in satisfactory oral hygiene and moderate gingivitis. The study results show that people with dental implants lack information about individual and professional oral hygiene. Oral care professionals should pay more attention to instructing patients. Based on scientific research, it can be stated that the oral hygiene of informants with dental implants is different. Some informants use additional oral care products and regularly visit oral care specialists, so their oral hygiene is good, while others do not have enough motivation to pay more attention to oral hygiene.