Awareness of impression procedures in implant dentistry among dental interns and clinicians.

Introduction: The replacement of missing teeth is an increasing concern among the population due to functional and esthetic reasons. Along with the increase in demand for replacement, the need for fixed and permanent replacement is also increasing widely. The use of implants is increasing among the population due to its long term and fixed properties in spite of its high price. Aim: The purpose of this survey was to determine the awareness of various impression techniques used in implant dentistry among the dental interns and practitioners in Chennai. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted among 100 dental interns and practitioners among the South Indian population. A set of 10 questions was created and the questionnaire was distributed. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the awareness of impression techniques used in implant dentistry. The information was collected from the clinicians and recorded. A comparison of the answers from the collected data was made. Results: There was found to be an awareness of 100% in the impression techniques. However, the awareness of splinting and non-splinting techniques was less (80%) when compared to the open and closed tray techniques (100%). The reason could be the limited use of these practically among the dental interns and a use of these clinically would bring about a full awareness of these techniques as well. Conclusion: A positive response is seen on the basic impression techniques that include open and closed tray techniques, whereas the impressions taken on a multiple implant case with some modifications are yet to be more familiarized. As regards, short hands-on courses can help in teaching the shortcomings of impression techniques for various cases and hence to increase the knowledge on these topics of implant dentistry which is flourishing in the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]