The Role of Family and Friends in Accepting Dental Implant Treatment: A Preliminary Clinical Report on an Iranian Population.

Abstract

Consenting to a dental implant treatment plan may be a challenging decision for many patients, and they may prefer to consult their family and friends before making the final decision on this matter. The purpose of this preliminary report was to assess the role of family and friends, as the consultees, in consenting to a dental implant treatment plan by patients. A total of 106 patients with dental implants were questioned about whether they made the final decision regarding their dental implant treatment by themselves or they consulted their family and friends prior to finalizing their decision. The majority of men (52.1%) reported making this decision by themselves and based on their own personal opinion, while most women (48.2%) reported making the decision after consulting their children. Within the limitations of this preliminary report, it appears that women are more willing to consult their children and friends on this matter compared with men. Also, men mostly consult their wives in making such a decision while women pay more attention to the opinion of their children in this respect.