Knowledge of dental graduates about peri-implant diseases: a cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

Dental implants are widely used, but their success rates do not match the survival of natural teeth, being subject to biological complications such as peri-implant mucositis (reversible inflammation without bone loss) and peri-implantitis (inflammation with progressive bone loss). Given the increasing use of implants and the scarcity of robust evidence on the management of these diseases, it is justified to evaluate the knowledge of dental graduates on the subject, which is the objective of this observational, cross-sectional, and prospective study. A validated questionnaire was applied via a digital platform to final-year students from institutions in the southern region of Brazil, excluding students on academic leave and incomplete questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and chi-square test (p<0.05). The sample was predominantly female (mean age 23 years), with a predominance of students from private institutions. Nearly all attended Implantology courses, with greater availability in public institutions (p<0.001). Biofilm was recognized as an etiological factor by both groups (p=1.000), while smoking and previous periodontitis were more frequently identified by students from private institutions (p=0.001; p<0.001). The findings indicate satisfactory knowledge regarding microbial etiology and diagnosis, but gaps persist concerning periodontitis as a risk factor, reversibility of mucositis, and interpretation of probing depth. Given the increasing use of implants, a more integrated and practical education aligned with contemporary clinical demands is imperative, while longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate the findings.