Decision making among Swedish general dental practitioners concerning prosthodontic treatment planning in a shortened dental arch.

ABSTRACT

The purposes of this study were to describe how dentists evaluated the importance of various patient-related items when planning for a treatment in a shortened dental arch, to analyse common dimensions of the decision-making in comparison to other decision situations, and to identify explanatory factors behind these dimensions. A questionnaire containing different statements regarding the shortened dental arch concept was sent to a random sample of Swedish general dentists (n=189), with a response rate of 54%. The dentists were asked to evaluate items to be considered when planning for a prosthetic treatment in a shortened dental arch. Differences between individuals were great as well as between groups of dentists. Especially delivery system but also place of dental education and attitudinal factors were related to the shortened dental arch decision making process.