Awareness of peri-implantitis among general dental practitioners in the UK: a questionnaire study

Introduction Dental implants are a predictable prosthetic option for replacement of missing teeth with good survival rates. Peri-implant diseases are the main reason for implant failure by causing bone loss around the implant leading to implant loss. General dental practitioners see patients with dental implants routinely and therefore, awareness of risk factors for peri-implant disease and early diagnosis is essential for appropriate management. The aim of this study is to assess the awareness of general dental practitioners in diagnosing peri-implantitis, with a view to identify any potential training needs.Design, setting, materials and methods A quantitative study method was designed using an online questionnaire sent to closed social media groups in the UK. The significance level was taken as p <0.05. The chi-squared tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used with IBM SPSS software. Descriptive statistical analysis of data was also done.Results and conclusion A total of 224 responses were received. The results show that there is lack of awareness of diagnostic criteria of peri-implantitis among general dental practitioners. However, majority of practitioners are aware of the legal implications of failing to diagnose this condition. There is a perceived need for more undergraduate training in diagnosing peri-implant diseases.