Implant Satisfaction and Associated Social and Behavioral Consequences

OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of satisfaction, social and behavioral consequences, and changes in masticatory function of a randomly selected group of patients who received dental implant treatment in a dental school setting.

METHODS: A random group of implant patients who received maxillary or mandibular overdentures or maxillary anterior single tooth implants within the years of 2002-2007 were selected for this study. After obtaining study approval from the IRB, approximately three-hundred and fifty letters were mailed out to potential participants to ask for their willingness to participate in the study. Of these potential participants, a sub-group of fifty-five patients were randomly chosen, called over the phone and given a 20-questions survey. The survey focused on 3 main domains: a) patient satisfaction with the overall implant treatment (10 questions), b) the impact of implant therapy on patient's social and behavioral habits (5 questions), and c) subjective impact on masticatory function (5 questions). In order to assess the level of patient's agreement, a five-point Likert scale was used. Statistical analysis was performed using one sample-binomial test at the significance level of a=0.05.

RESULTS: When combining the “strongly agree” and “agree” responses, analyzed data indicated that 89.4% of patients were satisfied with the implant treatment; 67.3% reported their social and behavioral habits were positively affected after treatment and, 64% found improvement in their masticatory functions. In parallel, when combining “strongly disagree” and “disagree” responses, 4.8% of patients were dissatisfied with the treatment, 7.3% reported that implant treatment did not impact their social and behavioral habits and 4% did not find any improvement in their masticatory function.

CONCLUSION: Overall, patients reported positive social, behavioral and functional consequences after implant treatment; the most majority of patients were extremely satisfied with the treatment received at the educational institution.