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ePaper created 2016-06-17, 09:51:15 | version 1.38.0
Study finds fundamental misconceptions about dental implants among patients ByDTI HONG KONG, China: Investigating patients’knowledgeandperceptions regarding implant therapy, a Chi- nese study has found that an alarm- ingnumberofparticipantshadinac- curate and unrealistic expectations about dental implants. Moreover, the study determined that only 18 per cent felt confident about the in- formation they had about the treat- ment. In the study, the researchers inves- tigated preoperative information levels, perceptions and expectations regarding implant therapy via a questionnaire. Responses from 277 patients were obtained during 2014 and 2015 in three different locations in China (Hong Kong, Sichuan and Jiangsu). The analyses established that about one-third of the participants had mistaken assumptions about dental implants. According to the research- ers, common misconceptions were that dental implants require less care than natural dentition, implant treatment is appropriate for all pa- tients with missing teeth, dental implants last longer than natural dentition, and there are no risks or complications with implant treat- ment. Overall, younger respondents (< 45) and those with higher education (bachelor’s and postgraduate de- grees) tended to have more realistic perceptions and lower expectations ofthetreatmentoutcome. When asked about their level of knowledge,63percentofthepartici- pants said that they were generally informed about implants, but only 18 per cent felt confident about the informationtheyhad. The study, titled “What do patients expect from treatment with dental implants? Perceptions, expectations and misconceptions: A multicenter study”, was published online ahead of print on 23 March in the Clinical OralImplantsResearchjournal. Dental Tribune Middle East & Africa Edition | 3/2016 implant tribune 3 Although dental implants are gaining increasing popularity, patients’ are often insufficiently informed and their perceptions unrealistic, a study has found.(Photograph:AnnaMoskvina/Fotolia)