Dentistry Undergraduate Students' Views on Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Implantology Education: A Survey Study in Turkey

Objectives: Dental implantology has become a contemporary and important component of dentistry practice, the importance of which is increasing. The fact that dental implantology has become an important treatment option in dentistry practice reveals the importance of implantology education. The aim of this survey study is to evaluate undergraduate and postgraduate dental implantology education in Turkey by undergraduate dentistry students.Materials and Methods: A total of 233 5th year undergraduate dentistry students who completed dental implantology theoretical training from three different dentistry faculties were included in the study. Participants were asked to fill out a printed survey consisting of a total of 20 questions with different answer options. The survey aimed to obtain the participants' opinions on various topics such as implantology education, educational qualifications, practice authorizations, postgraduate dental implantology education, adequacy of courses, and standardization of education levels. Results: A total of 233 participants (110 male, 123 female) were included in the study. The distribution of the answers to the survey questions according to the faculties was tabulated. The answers to the open-ended questions were categorized and classified. According to the results of the study, the participants think that dental implantology education provided until graduation in Turkey is inadequate. It is thought that the lack of education is especially in clinical practice and according to the study results, the practical aspect of dental implantology education should be strengthened. The study results indicate that dental implantology education in Turkey should be standardized at an international level and indicate that universities have an importance in this standardization. Conclusions: Intern dentists do not consider themselves competent in performing dental implantology treatments after graduation, and the majority of participants find dental implantology courses useful. In addition, participants state that the courses should be provided by universities.