Acceptance rate of palatal implants: A questionnaire study

Implants have gained popularity in orthodontics because they facilitate maximum anchorage with minimum patient cooperation. However, some orthodontists avoid using implants because psychological aspects of the anchorage systems have not been fully reported. In this study, 85 patients who received orthodontic treatment with palatal implants in 2 clinics in Austria completed questionnaires. The results show that most patients got used to their implants in about 2 weeks; 95% were satisfied with the treatment, and 86% would recommend the treatment to other patients. In addition, 75% of the patients found the orthodontic construction between the anchor teeth and the palatal implant less comfortable than the implant itself, whereas 7% found the palatal implant less comfortable. Approximately 24 months of treatment with the palatal implant is tolerable for patients; this is the average orthodontic treatment time.