title: Knowledge and practice of implant-retained restorations among dental students in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and practice of implant retained restorations (IRR) among senior dental students in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred questionnaires were distributed among senior dental students of five dental schools in Saudi Arabia. Student's knowledge was assessed regarding which implant restoration [cement retained restoration (CRR) or screw retained restoration (SRR)] better provides the desired clinical properties. Students' practice of IRR, perception of their knowledge and need for further education related to IRR were also assessed. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were employed to assess collected data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and fifty four senior dental students responded at a response rate of 88.5%. Thirty three percent respondents did not have any practical experience of IRR. Students showed a clear preference for CRR with regards to aesthetics (71.4%), passive fit (55.3%), fabrication ease (57.3%) and fracture resistance (40%). SRR were considered to provide better retention (59.6%), soft tissue health (51.1%) and ease of retrievability (72%). Nearly 40% of students agreed that they did not get sufficient information related to IRR in undergraduate courses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical training of IRR is compromised in the undergraduate curriculum in dental schools of Saudi Arabia. The knowledge of dental students regarding IRR was broadly in line with current evidence.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Fahim Vohra, Associate Professor, Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.affiliation: Dr. Altaf Hussain Shah, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Altaf Hussain
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Dr. Mohammad Sohail Zafar, Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Sohail
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Zaheer Kola, Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Zaheer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kola
keywords: Implant restoration; Knowledge; Practice; Student