Knowledge assessment of dental implant practitioners at Ajman and Sharjah dental schools

Out of all the dental practitioners who took part in this study, only 27.7% of them have undergone formal training in dental implant placement and only 54.3% were satisfied with the implant education they received at undergraduate level. [...]94.8% of the participants demanded further education and training with respect to dental implant placement. Conclusion: Study findings revealed that dental practitioners possess a high level of knowledge and education towards dental implants, however the overall results show that participants lack practical experience. [...]progress is needed on all educational levels, in addition to advanced level training of dental implant placement for the purpose of enabling dentists to carry out dental implant procedures with a higher level of confidence. Recent advances in implant materials, improved surgical techniques and protocols have played a significant role in making dental implant treatments more practical and therefore more successful and cost effective, rendering it a highly preferable option to dentists worldwide. [...]it has been mandatory for general practitioners to expand their knowledge and experience with respect to implant dentistry and its related procedures. Prasad and Bansal documented the improvement in students' satisfaction and confidence regarding their implant education after attaining simulation and clinical training 7. [...]numerous studies have revealed that the integration of implant dentistry in the dental undergraduate curriculum still proves a challenge with several obstacles, such as time limitations within the curriculum, high cost of materials and equipment, unavailability of trained staff, and inadequate patient flow 2· 3· 8· 9.