Assessment of KAP among the Dental Practitioners towards Prosthetic Phase of Implant in Vidarbha Region of India: A Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: Implant therapy has become a significant part of day-to-today dental practice. Adequate knowledge of diagnostic as well as therapeutic options is therefore necessary for all general dental practitioners. The present study is designed to evaluate and assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of practitioners about the prosthetic phase of dental implant. As the dental implant therapy is emerging in Vidarbha region of India and lack of studies evaluating the same, we recommend that awareness regarding prosthetic phase will allow practitioners to offer extensive treatment options for patient with missing teeth using dental implants. Materials and Methods: This is an observational questionnaire survey conducted among 210 General Dental Practitioners in Vidarbha Region of India. A google form validated questionnaires distributed to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice among the study participants. Data were analysed using SPSS 22.0 version software. Results: A total of 210 dentists, nearly 69% of the participants had good knowledge of prosthetic phase of implant and majority of practitioners in the study had positive attitudes and practices toward the prosthetic phase of implant placement. Results were significant for KAP but co-relation between them was statistically not significant (p=0.12). Conclusion: In overall, practitioners have a significant level of knowledge about the prosthetic phase of an implant. There is a limitation of practise and exposure of dentists in this field of prosthetics because the majority of practitioners have not placed enough implants. Implant training and prospective prosthetic rehabilitation are thus adjuvant learning aids that will improve general dental practitioners' knowledge, attitude, and practice.