Assessment and maintenance of dental implants: clinical and knowledge-seeking practices of dental hygienists.

PURPOSE This study surveyed dental hygienists in order to assess their routine approach for dental implant maintenance and to determine if a relationship exists between the formal education of dental hygienists and their previous attendance and interest in future implant related continuing education courses. METHODS A survey was distributed to dental hygienists attending an annual national continuing education course. Participants voluntarily completed and submitted their survey before the end of the first day of the 3 day course. RESULTS The results indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between the level of formal education and implant related continuing education course attendance. Dental hygienists whose formal education did not include dental implant care were more likely to attend implant related continuing education courses than those whose formal education included this content. The majority of the dental hygienists expressed interest in continuing education courses on dental implants. Results of chi-square analysis show a statistically significant relationship between the type of education and interest in attending implant related continuing education courses. There was no statistically significant difference in continuing education interest between dental hygienists whose formal education did or did not include dental implants. CONCLUSION Additional continuing education courses have been completed by most dental hygienists whose curricula did not include formal training on dental implant care. Most dental hygienists are interested in gaining additional knowledge whether or not their dental hygiene curriculum contained content on dental implants.