Awareness On Pterygoid Implant Among Dental Undergraduates

Abstract

Introduction: Pterygoid implant has been defined as “implant placement through the maxillary tuberosity and into the pterygoid plate.” These implants were first introduced by Tulasne in 1989. The pterygoid implant originates in the tuberosity region and then follows an oblique mesiocranial direction proceeding posteriorly toward the pyramidal process; it subsequently proceeds upward between both wings of the pterygoid processes and finds its encroachment in the pterygoid or scaphoid fossa of the sphenoid bone. The length of these implants ranges from 15 to 20 mm, and they are generally placed at an angle of 45° to 50° to the horizontal planeThe success rates for all these different treatment possibilities seem to be similar. Therefore the need for engaging the implants at the level of the pterygoid plate is currently controversially discussed. Aim: To analyse the awareness of pterygoid implants among dental undergraduates. Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was prepared on google forms. It was distributed among 70 students. The data was transferred to excel and coding was done, the data was transferred to SPSS and statistical analysis was done. Results: Though 14% were still not aware when pterygoid implants can be used commonly. On doing the chi square test in regards to the awareness of pterygoid implant among undergraduates, along with a chi square value of 12.666, the p value was found to be 0.014, p<0.05, hence making the correlation statistically significant. The knowledge about the contraindications were also analysed and 60% of the participants who were aware of pterygoid implant were well aware of the contraindications. Conclusion: As future clinicians it is very important to know about the newer developments in the field of dentistry to provide a better treatment as well as for framing a fair treatment plan, the study shows that there still more than awareness needed in the respective topic of pterygoid implants.