Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Regarding Mini Implants Among Orthodontic Practitioners in the Kurdistan Region: Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study examines how orthodontic professionals in the Kurdistan Region understand and use mini implants, finding that younger and less experienced clinicians have more positive attitudes and higher knowledge.

Contribution

The study provides insights into the regional adoption of mini implants in orthodontics, highlighting generational differences in knowledge and confidence.

Findings

Postgraduate trainees showed significantly higher knowledge and perception scores than faculty members.

Younger clinicians and those with less experience had higher perception scores.

Knowledge, perception, and attitude toward mini implants were strongly correlated.

Abstract

Mini implants, or temporary anchorage devices, have transformed modern orthodontic practice by offering stable, minimally invasive anchorage for complex tooth movements. Despite their proven effectiveness, their use varies widely across regions, often influenced by clinicians’ knowledge, confidence, and training.

This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of orthodontic professionals regarding mini implant use in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and examined how experience and professional background shape their adoption in daily clinical work.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between April 2025 and September 2025 among orthodontic faculty and postgraduate trainees from 7 dental colleges in the Kurdistan Region. The validated questionnaire assessed participants’ demographic details and 3 key domains—knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes—using Likert-scale responses. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 28.0) and the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests, with significance set at P≤.05.

A total of 175 orthodontic practitioners completed the survey (n=100, 57.1% postgraduate trainees; n=75, 42.9% faculty members). Postgraduate trainees demonstrated significantly higher knowledge (mean 3.66, SD 0.49 vs mean 3.16, SD 0.48; P=.01) and perception (mean 3.29, SD 0.60 vs mean 2.39, SD 0.58; P=.02) scores. Immediate loading was preferred by 80% (80/100) of the postgraduate trainees compared with 40% (30/75) of faculty members (P=.001), whereas radiographic guidance was selected as the safest placement method by 75% (75/100) of postgraduate trainees vs 40% (30/75) of faculty members (P<.001). Younger clinicians (aged <35 years) and those with less than 5 years of experience showed significantly higher perception scores (P=.01). Knowledge, perception, and attitude were strongly correlated (r=0.74; P<.001), indicating that increased understanding promotes more positive attitudes toward mini screw use.

Orthodontists in the Kurdistan Region generally hold favorable views toward mini implants, yet differences in confidence and hands-on experience remain evident across generations.