Awareness, Acceptance, and Barriers to Dental Implant Therapy in Rural and Semi-Urban South India: A Cross-Sectional COM-B Based Study
Sai Keerthi Kalluri1 , Vasamsetti Divya Bhavani2 , Budumuru Ramesh Kumar3 , Dhana Angel D’Costa3 , Sai Govind Gavara4 and Snehitha Kommuru5
1Masters in Health Informatics (MSHI), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States 2Department of Public Health Dentistry, 3Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology, 4Department of Prosthodontics 5Under Graduate Student 2-5Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram - 534202 (India) Corresponding Author: Sai Keerthi Kalluri, Masters in Health Informatics (MSHI), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States Mail ID: kallurisaikeerthi61@gmail.com Phone Number: +91 9100769321
ABSTRACT
Dental implants offer predictable functional and esthetic outcomes for tooth replacement; however, their utilization remains low in rural and semi-urban populations of developing countries. Beyond clinical considerations, behavioral determinants strongly influence patient decision-making. Contemporary behavioral models have rarely been applied to understand implant acceptance.