What Factors May Influence a Clinician's Choice for an Implant System for Their Patients?

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Clinical Decision-Making
• Evidence-Based Dentistry

Background:

• Choosing the right dental implant system is crucial for clinicians.
• Factors influencing this critical decision are not well-understood.
• Understanding these factors can optimize treatment planning and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and rank the key factors influencing clinicians' selection of dental implant systems.
• To explore potential differences in influencing factors among various dental specialties.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was distributed to dentists, including oral and maxillofacial surgeons, general dentists, prosthodontists, and periodontists.
• Participants ranked factors influencing their implant system choice.
• Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare influencing factors across provider types, with significance set at P < .05.

Main Results:

• Clinical trial evidence (92%), ease of use (88%), and familiarity with the system (73%) were the most influential factors.
• Cost (63%), restorative dentist's preference (72%), and key opinion leader influence (66%) also played significant roles.
• Significant differences in the importance of cost, sales representative, key opinion leader, laboratory preference, continuing education, and practice growth potential were observed among provider types.

Conclusions:

• Evidence for success, ease of use, cost, and familiarity are paramount in selecting dental implant systems.
• These findings highlight the importance of robust clinical data and practical considerations in implant choice.
• Understanding these drivers can inform manufacturers and educators in supporting clinicians' decision-making processes.