KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF PATIENTS REGARDING THE CHOICE OF SELECTION OF FPDS AND DENTAL IMPLANTS

A patient's dental health is highly essential for social and psychological well-being, which is highly dependent on the presence of teeth in the oral cavity. Edentulous, a complete loss of all dentition, can be linked to caries, periodontal disease, or an injury, which affects aesthetics and function and, therefore, has a considerable impact on social and psychological well-being. A cross-section survey was used to collect the data through an online survey using the questionnaire among the Saudi population consisting of items evaluating the knowledge about implants and crowns. Findings reported that the majority of participants were female, comprising 62.6% of the total sample. 85.7% of participants were from the middle class, and the age group of 36-40 was 37.4%, followed by 40 above participants. 78.9% of participants were married, and a majority graduated. Information level about implants and crowns was poor, while the majority chose fixed partial dentures over implants. 67.6% were not sure about any complications related to it, while those who agreed thought broken or loose implants were the most common complication. Findings revealed the poor knowledge of participants about implants and crowns while preferred FPDs over implants. The reason for choosing implants and crowns was longevity and cost, while for not choosing it was cost and long treatment time.