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Maintaining peri-implant health: an evaluation of understanding among dental hygienists and therapists in Wales

British Dental Journal volume 226, pages 867–870 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives To describe the approach taken by dental hygienists and therapists (DH/Ts) in Wales regarding dental implant maintenance. To gather their opinions about the current level of implant education.

Materials and methods Online questionnaires were distributed to 257 DH/Ts within Wales.

Results The response rate was 35%. Dental implant care was within the remit of service for 92% of respondents. All respondents that provided implant care stated that they performed oral hygiene instruction, while 98% performed supragingival debridement, 85% subgingival debridement, and 64% clinical assessment of peri-implant health. A high proportion of DH/Ts in Wales did not feel entirely confident in carrying out procedures relating to peri-implant maintenance and only 27% felt confident in clinically assessing dental implants. The majority (83%) felt that postgraduate training in peri-implant maintenance should be obligatory. 'No available courses' was the main reason for not attending further postgraduate training in implantology.

Conclusions A high proportion of responding DH/Ts practising in Wales do not feel entirely confident in carrying out procedures relating to peri-implant maintenance. Postgraduate training may be useful in addressing this issue and undergraduate training programmes may need to consider increasing trainees' exposure to dental implant maintenance.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Tracey Kinsella and the Welsh Postgraduate Deanery for their assistance with data collection.

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Affiliations

  1. Speciality Registrar in Restorative Dentistry, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK

    Jann Siew Chin

  2. Professor/Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK

    Jeremy Rees

  3. Senior Clinical Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK

    Matthew Locke

  4. Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK

    Liam D. Addy

Authors
  1. Jann Siew Chin
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  2. Jeremy Rees
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  3. Matthew Locke
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  4. Liam D. Addy
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Correspondence to Jann Siew Chin.

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Chin, J., Rees, J., Locke, M. et al. Maintaining peri-implant health: an evaluation of understanding among dental hygienists and therapists in Wales. Br Dent J 226, 867–870 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0365-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0365-9

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