title: Public perceptions of dental implants: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dental implants have become a popular option for treating partially dentate or edentulous patients. Information on dental implants is widely available in the public domain and is disseminated through industries and dental practitioners at various levels/disciplines. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the public's information acquisition and their perceptions of dental implants and the effects of these on their care-seeking and decision making.
  
  
  METHODS
  A purposive sample of 28 adults were recruited to join six focus groups. To be eligible, one must be 35-64 years of age, had never been engaged in dentally related jobs, had at least one missing tooth, and had heard about dental implant but never received dental implant or entered into any dental consultation regarding dental implants. All of the focus groups discussions were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic content analysis following a grounded theory approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants acquired information on dental implants through various means, such as patient information boards, printed advertisements, social media, and personal connections. They expected dental implants to restore the patients' appearance, functions, and quality of life to absolute normality. They regarded dental implants as a panacea for all cases of missing teeth, overestimated their functions and longevity, and underestimated the expertise needed to carry out the clinical procedures. They were deterred from seeking dental implant treatment by the high price, invasive procedures, risks, and complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Members of the public were exposed to information of varying quality and had some unrealistic expectations regarding dental implants. Such perceptions may shape their care-seeking behaviours and decision-making processes in one way or another.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The views and experiences gathered in this qualitative study could assist clinicians to better understand the public's perspectives, facilitate constructive patient-dentist communication, and contribute to the creation of positive clinical experiences in implant dentistry.
authors.affiliation: The Kadoorie Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Guihua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: gaoxl@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Edward C M
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003778:Dentures / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D061108:Social Media; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: Care-seeking behaviours; Decision-making; Dental implant; Expectations; Information acquisition; Qualitative research