Log of Literature

Amber Suthers
10/23/14

Ward, S. T., Czuszak, C. A., Thompson, A. L., Downey, M. C. & Collins, M. A. (21012).
Assessment and maintenance of dental implants: clinical and knowledge-seeking
practices of dental hygienists. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 86(2), 104-110.

This article was written in the spring of 2012. This article was a study that was done on
practicing dental hygienists. Participation in the study was voluntary and the information
gathered was related to implant assessment, maintenance and follow-up care. It was noted in the
article that more than half of the study participants were graduates prior to the late 1990s. Most
of the hygienists formal education at that time did not include education about implants. The
results of the study found that those that had not received formal education regarding implant
assessment, maintenance and care were more pro-active at seeking out continuing education
courses with implant topics. Also, the vast majority regardless of formal education were
interested in receiving more and believed that education in this area was important and needed.

This article affects me because I care for patients and will care for patients in the future
with implants. The practice of replacing teeth with implants is gaining in numbers and this will
continue to affect maintenance appointments. There will continue to be a need for hygienists to
be able to assess patient implant needs, evaluate signs of implant failure, plan and implement a

treatment course of action and evaluate outcomes for implant care and success.
I agreed with the information presented in this article regarding the role of the dental
hygienist as an educator and a first line of defense for assessment. It stressed the importance for
the hygienist as well as the dentist to seek continuing education regarding implants. It mentioned
a radiographic protocol needed to have conformity in assessments.
I learned that there are specific roles that different types of radiographs play in the phases
of implants. Panoramic images are taken during the initial assessment phase when determining
need of placing an implant. After the implant is placed, periapical x-rays are utilized to view
bone levels over time. It was also noted that some offices choose to use panoramic images as a
way to assess the continued bone loss levels over time after placement.
I had already learned about cleaning and debridement care of implants. At the beginning
of my formal education, it was still believed that the use of plastic probes and scalers were the
best choice. Now, plastic instrumentation is utilized if the crown of the implant is above the soft
gingival tissue (if there is a space between). Regular instruments can be used if the implant has
tissue surrounding resembling natural dentition. Previously placed implants may not be
completely encased in the bone. I had also already learned about the importance to maintain recare appointments for every 3 months for the first year after placement.