| Abstract [eng] |
Relevance of the study. Dental implantation is a widely used procedure in dentistry to restore the missing teeth. Based on research conducted over the past decade, the success of dental implants largely depends not only on hard tissues but also on the condition of the surrounding soft tissues. Preservation of these soft tissues can be a real challenge for clinicians when aiming to achieve both healthy peri-implant tissues and satisfactory aesthetic outcomes for the patient. The healing of soft tissues after dental implantation is highly influenced by the choice of healing abutment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the approach of Lithuanian dentists and the factors influencing the use of customized healing abutments in their clinical practice. Materials and methods. An anonymous questionnaire-based survey was conducted. It was developed based on similar studies and adapted to meet the objectives of this research. The respondents were: dentists and dental specialists (periodontists, prosthodontists and oral surgeons) practining in Lithuania and performing dental implant procedures. A total of 57 clinicians participated in this study: 31 of them were general dentists, 2 periodontists, 8 prosthodontists, 16 oral surgeons. The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions, a total of 57 respondents completed the survey which was distributed electronically via the social media platform “Facebook”, in groups designed specifically for dentists. The questionnaire is provided in the appendix (Appendix No. 1.) Results. A total of 57 dentists and dental specialists responded to the survey. Among them, 91% (n = 52) reported performing patient treatment with dental implants. Of these, 63.5% (n = 33) indicated that they use customized healing abutments in their clinical practice, while the remaining 36.5% (n = 19) reported not using them. Among those who use customized healing abutments in their clinical practice, 30 respondents (90.9%) reported using abutments made of composite. The main factors influencing their use were immediate implant placement, selected by 29 respondents (87.9%) and implantation in the aesthetic zone by 20 respondents (60.6%). Additionally, 25 respondents (75.8%) claimed observing better preservation of soft tissue volume when using customized healing abutments. Conclusions. The majority of dentists and dental specialists use customized healing abutments in their practice, most commonly made out of composite material. These are primarily applied in clinical situations such as immediate dental implantation and implantation in aesthetic zone. According to the survey answers, the use of customized healing abutments is mostly associated with improved preservation of soft tissue volume. Keywords: dental implantation, immediate dental implantation, customized healing abutments, standard healing abutments. |
