Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Dental Implants Among Undergraduate Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ajm.2026.9.02.22Keywords:
Dental implants, Implant dentistry, Dental education, Questionnaire-based studyAbstract
Background: Dental implants have become an important treatment modality for the replacement of missing teeth. Undergraduate dental students are expected to develop adequate knowledge and awareness regarding implant indications, treatment planning, surgical principles, prosthetic rehabilitation, complications, and maintenance. Assessing their current level of knowledge can help identify educational gaps and improve undergraduate implant dentistry training. Aim: To assess the knowledge and awareness regarding dental implants among undergraduate dental students and to evaluate the association between knowledge levels and selected academic and educational factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 200 undergraduate dental students. Participants were recruited from different years of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program. A structured, self-administered questionnaire consisting of questions related to the basic principles of dental implants, indications and contraindications, implant treatment planning, osseointegration, implant prosthodontics, complications, and maintenance was used for data collection. Each knowledge-based question was assigned one mark for a correct response and zero for an incorrect or “do not know” response. Awareness-related responses were analyzed separately. Data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and appropriate inferential tests. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 200 participants, the overall knowledge regarding dental implants was found to be moderate, with considerable variation according to academic year. Students in the senior clinical years demonstrated higher knowledge and awareness scores than students in the junior years. Students who had previously received formal teaching or clinical exposure to implant dentistry demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores than those without such exposure (p < 0.05). Although most students were aware of dental implants as a treatment option for replacing missing teeth, gaps were identified in areas related to implant treatment planning, loading protocols, peri-implant diseases, prosthetic components, and long-term maintenance. Conclusion: Undergraduate dental students demonstrated satisfactory general awareness but variable knowledge regarding dental implant therapy. Greater clinical exposure and structured undergraduate education in implant dentistry may help improve students’ understanding and confidence in implant treatment planning and prosthetic rehabilitation.
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