Dentistry Undergraduate Students' Views on Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Implantology Education: A Survey Study in Turkey

Sefa Çolak; Aslı Başal; Rutkay Fırat Bulut; Mustafa Sami Demirsoy; Aras Erdil

doi:10.7126/cumudj.1663487

EN TR

Dentistry Undergraduate Students' Views on Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Implantology Education: A Survey Study in Turkey

Abstract

Objectives: Dental implantology has become a contemporary and important component of dentistry practice, the importance of which is increasing. The fact that dental implantology has become an important treatment option in dentistry practice reveals the importance of implantology education. The aim of this survey study is to evaluate undergraduate and postgraduate dental implantology education in Turkey by undergraduate dentistry students. Materials and Methods: A total of 233 5th year undergraduate dentistry students who completed dental implantology theoretical training from three different dentistry faculties were included in the study. Participants were asked to fill out a printed survey consisting of a total of 20 questions with different answer options. The survey aimed to obtain the participants' opinions on various topics such as implantology education, educational qualifications, practice authorizations, postgraduate dental implantology education, adequacy of courses, and standardization of education levels. Results: A total of 233 participants (110 male, 123 female) were included in the study. The distribution of the answers to the survey questions according to the faculties was tabulated. The answers to the open-ended questions were categorized and classified. According to the results of the study, the participants think that dental implantology education provided until graduation in Turkey is inadequate. It is thought that the lack of education is especially in clinical practice and according to the study results, the practical aspect of dental implantology education should be strengthened. The study results indicate that dental implantology education in Turkey should be standardized at an international level and indicate that universities have an importance in this standardization. Conclusions: Intern dentists do not consider themselves competent in performing dental implantology treatments after graduation, and the majority of participants find dental implantology courses useful. In addition, participants state that the courses should be provided by universities.

Keywords

Diş Hekimliği Lisans Öğrencilerinin Lisans ve Lisans Sonrası Dental İmplantoloji Eğitimi ile İlişkili Görüşleri: Türkiye ‘de Bir Anket Çalışması

Öz

Amaç: Dental implantoloji, diş hekimliği pratiğinin içerisinde, önemi giderek artan, çağdaş ve önemli bir bileşen haline gelmiştir. Dental implantolojinin diş hekimliği pratiğinde önemli bir tedavi seçeneği haline gelmesi, lisans ve lisans sonrası diş hekimliği eğitiminde, lisans müfredatlarının ve implantoloji eğitimlerinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu anket çalışmasının amacı Türkiye‘deki lisans ve lisans sonrası dental implantoloji eğitiminin lisans diş hekimliği öğrencileri tarafından değerlendirilmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya üç farklı diş hekimliği fakültesinden dental implantoloji teorik eğitimini tamamlamış toplam 233 5’inci sınıf diş hekimliği lisans öğrencisi dâhil edildi. Katılımcılardan farklı cevaplandırma seçeneklerine sahip, toplam 20 sorudan oluşan basılı bir anketi doldurmaları istendi. Anket lisans diş hekimliği implantoloji eğitimi, eğitim yeterlilikleri, uygulama yetkileri, lisans sonrası dental implantoloji eğitimi, kursların yeterlilikleri, eğitim seviyelerinin standardizasyonu gibi farklı konular hakkında katılımcıların görüşlerini almayı amaçladı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 233 (110 erkek, 123 kadın) katılımcı dâhil edildi. Anket sorularına verilen cevapların fakültelere göre dağılımları tablolaştırıldı. Açık uçlu sorulara verilen cevaplar kategorize edildi ve sınıflandırıldı. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre katılımcılar Türkiye‘de mezuniyete kadar verilen dental implantoloji eğitiminin yetersiz olduğunu düşünmektedir. Eğitim eksikliğinin özellikle klinik uygulamalarda olduğu düşünülmektedir ve çalışma sonuçlarına göre dental implantoloji eğitiminin pratik yönü kuvvetlendirilmelidir. Çalışma sonuçları Türkiye‘deki dental implantoloji eğitiminin uluslararası seviyede standardize edilmesi gerektiğini ifade etmektedir ve bu standardizasyonda üniversitelerin önemi olduğunu belirtmektedir. Sonuçlar: Mezuniyet sonrası dental implantoloji içerikli tedavileri gerçekleştirmede stajyer diş hekimleri kendilerini yeterli görmemektedir ve katılımcıların büyük çoğunluğu dental implantoji kurslarını faydalı görmektedir. Ayrıca katılımcılar kursların üniversiteler tarafından verilmesi gerektiğini ifade etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Supporting Institution

Not supported.

Project Number

Not supported.

Ethical Statement

The ethical suitability of this multicenter survey study was approved by the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Clinical Research Ethics Committee [Registration Number: 24-KAEK-190 (Number: 83116987-418)].

Thanks

None

References

1. Addy LD, Lynch CD, Locke M, Watts A, Gilmour ASM. The teaching of implant dentistry in undergraduate dental schools in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Br Dent J 2008;205(11):609-614.
2. Enabulele JE, Omo JO. Teaching of dental implantology to undergraduate dental students: The Nigerian experience. Eur J Dent Educ 2020;24(3):476-482.
3. Mattheos N, Ucer C, Van de Velde T, Nattestad A. Assessment of knowledge and competencies related to implant dentistry in undergraduate and postgraduate university education. Eur J Dent Educ 2009;13(1):55-65.
4. Vasak C, Fiederer R, Watzek G. Current state of training for implant dentistry in Europe: a questionnaire-based survey. Clin Oral Implants Res 2007;18(5):668.
5. Lim MVC, Afsharzand Z, Rashedi B, Petropoulos VC. Predoctoral implant education in U.S. dental schools. J Prosthodont Off J Am Coll Prosthodont 2005;14(1):46-56.
6. Vandeweghe S, Koole S, Younes F, De Coster P, De Bruyn H. Dental implants placed by undergraduate students: clinical outcomes and patients’/students’ perceptions. Eur J Dent Educ Off J Assoc Dent Educ Eur 2014;18(1):60-69.
7. Kronstrom M, McGrath L, Chaytor D. Implant dentistry in the undergraduate dental education program at Dalhousie University. Part 1: clinical outcomes. Int J Prosthodont 2008;21(2):124-128.
8. Kroeplin BS, Strub JR. Implant dentistry curriculum in undergraduate education: part 2-program at the Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany. Int J Prosthodont 2011;24(6):544-556.

9. Koole S, De Bruyn H. Contemporary undergraduate implant dentistry education: a systematic review. Eur J Dent Educ 2014;18(1):11-23.
10. Blum IR, O’Sullivan DJ, Jagger DC. A survey of undergraduate education in dental implantology in UK dental schools. Eur J Dent Educ 2008;12(4):204-207.
11. Moeini G, Ghazanfari R, Habibzadeh S, Kharazifard MJ. Knowledge and attitude in implant dentistry training courses amongst undergraduate dental students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Eur J Dent Educ 2023;27(2):353-359.
12. De Bruyn H, Koole S, Mattheos N, Lang NP. A survey on undergraduate implant dentistry education in Europe. Eur J Dent Educ Off J Assoc Dent Educ Eur 2009;13(1):3-9.
13. Chowdhary R, Chowdhary N. Need of implant dentistry at undergraduate dental curriculum in Indian dental colleges. Indian J Dent Res Off Publ Indian Soc Dent Res 2011;22(3):436-439.
14. Terzioglu B, Corekci AU, Seyma Ekena SS, Ayyildiz BG. Comparison of pre-clerkship and clerkship dentistry students’ perspectives on implant education: a cross-section from Türkiye. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2025;0(0):1-32.
15. McAndrew R, Ellis J, Lynch CD, Thomason M. Embedding implants in undergraduate dental education. Br Dent J 2010;208(1):9-10.
16. Jahangiri L, Choi M. A model for an integrated predoctoral implant curriculum: implementation and outcomes. J Dent Educ 2008;72(11):1304-1317.
17. Kroeplin BS, Strub JR. Implant dentistry curriculum in undergraduate education: part 1-a literature review. Int J Prosthodont 2011;24(3):221-234.
18. Maalhagh-Fard A, Nimmo A. Eleven-year report on a predoctoral implant dentistry program. J Prosthodont Off J Am Coll Prosthodont 2008;17(1):64-68.
19. Calvert G, Thomason JM, Ellis JS. Are implant supported overdentures too complex to be included in the undergraduate curriculum? Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2012;20(4):176-180.
20. Sharma A, Shrestha B, Chaudhari BK, Suwal P, Singh RK. Knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding dental implants among dental interns. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2018;56(210):607-615.
21. Chaudhary S, Gowda TM, Kumar TAB, Mehta DS. Knowledge and attitudes of dental interns in Karnataka state, India, regarding implants. J Dent Educ 2013;77(10):1365-1370.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , Oral Implantology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sefa Çolak ^*
0000-0002-0807-9089
Türkiye

Aslı Başal
0009-0008-5140-4482
Türkiye

Rutkay Fırat Bulut
0009-0003-9015-3579
Türkiye

Mustafa Sami Demirsoy
0000-0001-8654-2799
Türkiye

Aras Erdil
0000-0002-9582-5114
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

March 22, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 16, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7126/cumudj.1663487

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA67BZ67ZH

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

EndNote

Çolak S, Başal A, Bulut RF, Demirsoy MS, Erdil A (March 1, 2026) Dentistry Undergraduate Students’ Views on Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Implantology Education: A Survey Study in Turkey. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal 29 1 1–8.