Facilitation of implant provision in primary care

Objective: To investigate primary care practitioner participation in implant-supported mandibular overdenture (ISOD) provision. Design: Postal questionnaire. Setting: Primary dental care, North East England 2007. Subjects and methods: Two hundred and ninety-five practitioners in North East England were sent questionnaires presenting a case-based scenario of a patient unable to manage a lower denture on an atrophic ridge. The questionnaire led them through the facilitation stages of ISOD provision, asking them to state their anticipated level of participation at each stage. Demographic details were also collected. Results: Two hundred and seventeen responses were received (74%). Most practitioners would consider the option of provision of ISODs (89%) in this case and all who considered would discuss the option with the patient. Of those offering to facilitate treatment, 66% (122/184) would never deliver themselves, with the majority (60%, 111/184) referring within primary care. Statistical analysis showed associations between demographics and behaviour. Conclusions: The majority of practitioners in this study area would facilitate ISOD provision in this case. Practitioners who are male and working in a practice where a framework for the provision of implants already exists are most likely to facilitate provision and/or provide an ISOD within primary care.