Patient's experiences of dental implants, peri-implantitis and its treatment-A qualitative interview study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to explore peri-implantitis patients' sensations, expectations, and experiences of dental implants, the disease, as well as undergoing treatment with laser or mucosal flap surgery.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted with 18 patients who had been referred for treatment of peri-implantitis at a specialist clinic. The participants underwent either laser treatment or mucosal flap surgery of affected implants. Qualitative content analysis was used for processing the transcribed interviews with coding in categories and subcategories.

RESULTS

The analysis of the interviews was presented in a narrative way to display the variety of experiences in this patient group. Losing teeth was perceived as frustrating and negatively impacted their quality of life; however, receiving dental implants improved some aspects of the patients' lives. While some have symptoms, others did not seem to notice the incidence and development of peri-implantitis. Local anaesthesia was the worst part of both treatments and both modalities yielded only minor discomforts.

CONCLUSION

There were a variety of positive and negative sensations and experiences perceived by patients with dental implants as a consequence of peri-implantitis, including a negative impact on quality of life. These findings emphasize the importance of thoroughly informing the potential and established dental implant patients of the risk of developing disease and its impact. The treatment of peri-implantitis created in general only slight discomfort for the patient.

Stakeholder Perception of the Professional Role and Competence of Swedish Dental Hygienists: A Questionnaire and Interview Study

Objectives:

This study investigated stakeholder opinions on the competence and role of dental hygienists in Sweden.

Materials and Methods:

A questionnaire was sent by e–mail to 94 stakeholders in eight Swedish counties. The survey queried the competence of recently graduated dental hygienists in skills in collaboration, communication, and problem–solving, and in clinical skills. In addition, 10 stakeholders from different Swedish dental organizations agreed to one–on–one deep interviews. Open–ended questions focused on dental hygienist competence to perform dental hygienist skills and tasks and to collaborate with other dental professionals and health–care professionals. Further topics concerning the dental hygienist included their future role and working in other European countries. The interviews were transcribed and then coded using qualitative conventional content analysis methods.

Results:

The stakeholder consensus in both the questionnaires and the interviews was that the dental hygienist profession is essential to modern dental care. The professional knowledge possessed by dental hygienists is unique and their role has developed and broadened over the years. Furthermore, the qualitative content analysis of the deep interviews identified a core category: The dental hygienist is an important profession for good oral health.

Conclusion:

Dental hygienists, responsible for prevention and oral health promotion, are an important members of the modern dental team. The need for dental hygienists to collaborate with other dental and general health–care professionals to meet the future demands of society will increase.