Abstract
Background: This study was aimed at investigating factors influencing the selection of dental institutions for implant surgery among young adults (age: 20-64 years) and identifying differences in these factors according to general characteristics. Methods: We conducted an internet survey for approximately 2 months, from April to July 2022, and analyzed data from a total of 128 people. Dental institution selection factors included three items of convenience of transportation, five items of physical environment, three items of image of institution, five items of image of dental staff, five items of dental service, and four items of basic dental elements. The importance score for each item was investigated on a five-point scale. Results: The importance score for each dental institution selection factor was the highest for dental service (4.42 points), followed by basic dental element (4.00 points), physical environment (3.89 points), image of institution (3.81 points), convenience of transportation (3.76 points), and image of dental staff (2.78 points). The importance score for each item was the highest for dentists' technique, followed by cleanliness, reliability, and dentists' attitude. Women had higher average scores for all factors compared to men, with statistical significance in scores for convenience of transportation, physical environment, image of institution, dental service, and basic dental elements (p< 0.05). Conclusion: To attract patients seeking implants to a dental institution, attention should be paid to the patients' institution selection factors. In addition, the environment of a dental institution should be created in such a way that it favors patients' selection factors.
