Dental implant practice in French West Indies and French Guyana: a cross-sectional study among dental practitioners

Background: In 2016, 459 dentists were registered in French West Indies and French Guyana. They represent 10% of French clinicians but they work in an environment very different from continental France. The aim of this study was to describe dental implantology practices among dentists in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guyana. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study, with questionnaires sent by email, was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017. Results: 116 practitioners answered. Respondents were all general practitioners, except two dentists who practiced only surgical procedures (not specialists). Implant surgeries were provided by 50% respondents and soft-tissue or hard-tissue grafting were provided by 34.5% of the sample. Prosthodontic procedures were carried out by 62.9% respondents. At last, 34.5% of the sample were not involved in implant services. Discussion: The proportion of dentists who performed implant procedures was similar to that reported in other international studies and French survey. The percentage of dentists not involved in implant dentistry still significant and the most frequently reported barriers were the expense of treatment, patient's difficulties to afford the treatment and the lack of knowledge. Conclusion: The practice of implant dentistry is widespread in French West Indies and French Guyana. Dental implant use was not different between clinicians of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guyana. The number of dentists who received local implant training was lower in French Guyana.