Dentists’ preferences in implant maintenance and hygiene instruction

Background This study investigated the preferences of dentists in Australia providing professional implant maintenance and implant-specific oral hygiene instructions (OHI). Methods General were surveyed online about their peri-implant diagnostics, provision, armamentarium used, OHI techniques frequency. Results Most 303 respondents (96%) provided services; 87.6% reviewed implants regularly while 10.7% only performed diagnostics after detecting clinical signs/symptoms. Supragingival prosthesis cleaning was by 77.9% respondents, 35.0% subgingival debridement, 41.9% treated mucositis 18.2% peri-implantitis. About 15% did not treat nor refer disease, including significantly more non-implant providers without training. Maintenance commonly included floss (76.3%), prophylaxis (73.9%), plastic curettes (43.3%) stainless-steel ultrasonics (38.0%). Brushing (86.5%), flossing (73.9%) interdental brush use (68.3%) most recommended. Implant repeated routinely 57.4% who it. Dentists with greater training experience likely to perform reviews complex procedures. Conclusions Peri-implant performed, treatments varied among dentists. those higher levels had preventative approaches OHI. Possible shortcomings disease management reinforcement identified.