Implementing Integrated Practice Unit for Dental Implant Treatment at a Tertiary Military Hospital Dental Service: A ValueBased Improvement Effort

Abstract Background: The dental department faces challenges such as delays in access to care and prolonged treatment durations, exacerbated by a growing patient population, with an estimated 45,143 adults needing Implant-supported Prosthesis. This demand-supply mismatch leads to patient dissatisfaction and potential negative impacts on their health. Methods: This is an Observational Quality Improvement Study. The study was conducted over a 26-month period, with baseline data collected from January to December 2019 and post-intervention data from January 2021 to December 2022. Data collection tools included IT-generated reports from the hospital OASIS system, patient charts from the R4 dental system, and dental laboratory records. Results: The total number of Implant-supported Prosthesis cases completed in 2022 is 1733. The results indicate a significant improvement in the efficiency and outcomes of the Implant-supported Prosthesis treatment. Average treatment time decreased by 53.61%, and appointment waiting times were reduced by 66.67%. The number of appointments required for treatment dropped by 31.4%, alongside substantial reductions in laboratory turnaround times for prostheses and crowns/bridges. The biological failure rate for implant-supported prostheses fell dramatically by 87.6%, and the technical failure rate reached 0% in 2021 and 2022. Patient experience scores improved from 77.20% to 84.24%, and the annual cost savings are estimated at around 4,790,817 SR. Conclusion: Overall, these changes suggest that minor adjustments in the system can lead to significant benefits without the need for additional costs or expansions.