Survival and Success of Dental Implants Placed in a University Setting

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of experience and specialty training on the success and survival of dental implant therapy for single-unit fixed restoration of missing teeth in a university setting.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the electronic patient record system at the Adams School of Dentistry. The Office of Computing and Information Systems provided dental records from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018, following the inclusion criteria. The records were manually reviewed by one evaluator (TC). Extracted from the records were subjects’ demographics; medical, dental, and social history; implant parameters; grafting procedures; and timing of placement/restoration/loading. Also recorded were the specialty training and level of experience, i.e., pre-doctoral student, resident, and faculty; the restoration type; radiographic confirmation of osseointegration before restoration; and occlusal splint fabrication. Fisher’s Exact Test was applied to determine if the providers’ specialty training and experience had any statistical significance on implant success and survival.

Results: A total of 501 implants were included in the study. Statistically significant were provider training (AEGD versus specialties, implant survival and success), subject’s gender (implant survival), implant type/manufacturer (implant survival and success), and immediate placement (implant survival). The overall survival rate was 97.0% while the success rate was 85.4%.

Conclusion: The type of clinical training impacted implant outcome, only when comparing AEGD versus specialties. Operator’s experience has no significance on the results.