Dental Implant Therapy at the University of Nairobi

Objectives: 1. To evaluate all the implants placed in patients attending the University of Nairobi Hopsital for survival, success and complications

2. To determine patient experience and satisfaction.
Methods: All the patients who had dental implants placed within the period, 2006-2017 and gave consent were recalled and evaluated. Their dental records were used to retrieve implant details, surgical details and restorative details. A clinical examination as well as radiograhic evaluation was performed. Finally a questionaire comprised of 10 questions was administered to the patients.

Data collected was analysed using SAS(version 9.4 Windows). The 5% significance level was used.

Results: 55 dental implants were evaluated from 29 patients. 105 implants were placed during this study period and this resulted in a recall rate of 55%.

Majority of the implants were placed on females 79% and the average age of all patients was 45 years.

The predominant reason for tooth loss was caries followed by trauma.

Bone grafting was done in 60% of implants, 85% of which used a synthetic bone graft material Osteon (Genos from Korea) and the remainder (15%) used bovine bone graft material Bio-Oss (Gestlich Pharma, Switzerland)

83% of the implants were single crown and 17% were fixed partial dentures
The implant restorations were predominantly metal ceramic 85%
79% were cement retained and 21% screw retained.

Only one implant failed during the study peroid. This was an anticiapted outcome as the implant did not have primary stability at the time of placement and therefore osseointegration did not take place. The patient also had a history of chronic periodontitis.

Patient satisfaction was high, >90% for all parameters except for flossing
Conclusions: Implant therapy remains the treatment of choice for single tooth replacements in patients with no history of biphosponate use or radiation therapy.

The survival and success rate is high. Complications are few especially with proper recall and maintenace of the implants.

Patient satisfaction is very high.

More dental schools should incorporate implant therapy exposure in the undergraduate training.