IADR Abstract Archives
Attitudes of Young Thai Dentists Towards Implant Dentistry
Objectives: Although dental implant becomes a standard for replacing the lost natural teeth in high socioeconomic countries for a long time, it has just been widely accepted in Thailand in these few decades. Since this dental substitution modality has a higher cost than the conventional ones and is considered rather new for Thai dentists, their attitudes towards implant dentistry should be clarified. While the young generation plays roles in shaping the future of dentistry, it is interesting to investigate their viewpoints. The objective of this study was to survey attitudes of young Thai dentists towards implant dentistry.
Methods: A questionnaire was distributed via an online social platform to Thai dentists graduated during 2003 and 2017. Attitudes towards implant therapy and continuous professional development on implant dentistry were assessed.
Results: 318 questionnaires were returned from 1,617 graduates. Although 91% of the respondents agreed that dental implants were superior to conventional prostheses, 49.1% intended to offer implant therapy, and 22% felt confident in providing patients with implant information. Most of them agreed that implant therapy should be provided by formally trained dentists and 46.9% interested in further study about implant dentistry. The most recent graduated respondents had the most positive attitudes and most interest to practice implant dentistry. While 52% of them considered implants were too expensive for Thai patient, 15% thought that implants were worth the cost, 37% that implants were worth the time, and 32% that implant therapy possessed minimal risk.
Conclusions: Most of the young Thai dentists appeared to harbor positive attitudes and be interested to continue their future education and practice in implant dentistry; however, they felt less confident to provide information to their patients. They perceived that implant therapy was too expensive and did not worth the cost and time.
Methods: A questionnaire was distributed via an online social platform to Thai dentists graduated during 2003 and 2017. Attitudes towards implant therapy and continuous professional development on implant dentistry were assessed.
Results: 318 questionnaires were returned from 1,617 graduates. Although 91% of the respondents agreed that dental implants were superior to conventional prostheses, 49.1% intended to offer implant therapy, and 22% felt confident in providing patients with implant information. Most of them agreed that implant therapy should be provided by formally trained dentists and 46.9% interested in further study about implant dentistry. The most recent graduated respondents had the most positive attitudes and most interest to practice implant dentistry. While 52% of them considered implants were too expensive for Thai patient, 15% thought that implants were worth the cost, 37% that implants were worth the time, and 32% that implant therapy possessed minimal risk.
Conclusions: Most of the young Thai dentists appeared to harbor positive attitudes and be interested to continue their future education and practice in implant dentistry; however, they felt less confident to provide information to their patients. They perceived that implant therapy was too expensive and did not worth the cost and time.