Evaluation of subjective satisfaction of dental implant patients

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to estimate the overall satisfaction level of dental implant patients and further evaluate factors influencing satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to patients who received dental implant therapy at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (Seongnam, Korea) from October 2003 to April 2005. The main portion of the questionnaire was shared to evaluate the level of satisfaction with implant therapy. The questionnaires contained evaluations of influencing factors, which were classified as pain-related, service-related, and complication-related. RESULTS The responses from 93 patients (41 males, 52 females) with a total of 325 implants were included in the analysis, and the mean score for overall satisfaction level with implant therapy was 8.26. Female patients showed higher visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for both pain during (P=0.000) and after implant surgery (P=0.016). Male patients showed more 'negative' values for the reasonability of treatment cost (P=0.008) and the adequacy of the treatment period (P=0.022). CONCLUSION The subjective satisfaction of patients was influenced by various factors, especially complication-related factors.