Continuing dental education in osseointegrated implants. A survey.

A survey of participants in a continuing education course in osseointegrated implants was carried out to determine dentists' attitudes toward such courses and how they were integrating implants into their everyday practice. The results indicated, despite the intense program, very few general dentists who attended such a course chose to actively participate in implant placement and a moderate number chose to carry out prosthetic restoration. Those who attended such courses appeared satisfied with the course content, appreciated the difficulties involved with implant placement and restoration and generally chose to refer such cases to appropriate specialists for management. This pilot study confirms dental implants are a popular and accepted mode of therapy. However, general dental practitioners who take the time to undergo specific training in osseointegrated implants appear to be less inclined to actively participate in the placement (surgery) of implants. Following appropriate training, many general practitioners felt comfortable in performing the restorative/prosthetic aspect of implant treatment for single tooth rather than partial or full denture cases. In conclusion, while continuing education courses in osseointegrated implants are becoming increasingly popular, this survey indicates participants become aware of the complexity of the procedures involved and tend to actively participate mainly in the prosthetic reconstruction of simple cases.