From good to great

01 January 2015
Volume 31 · Issue 1

A look at one of the new implant courses available to dentists.

At the heart of every dental practitioner’s passion for dentistry, is the desire to advance from ‘good’ to ‘great’. This can be achieved only through a combination of superior patient care, utilisation of cutting-edge technologies and materials and the undertaking of quality education and on-going training.
A training course for the Diploma in Advanced Dental Implantology is being held at the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS), delivered by a selection of internationally celebrated lecturers and supported by Nobel Biocare. Offering outstanding facilities and world-class instruction for all delegates, this is a course for professionals who wish to take their implantology skills to the highest level.
Having identified the need for such a training course and certification, Professor StJohn Crean, dean of the school of medicine and dentistry at the University of Central Lancaster, initiated the development of the diploma. He explains: “I believed there was a need for a route of recognition for clinicians who had embraced implantology as a significant aspect of their career. The RCS England Faculty of Dental Surgery’s foundation in recognising excellence was the obvious vehicle for that process, as an appropriate arbiter to provide judgement on the level of skill achieved.
“The Advanced Diploma will enable experienced practitioners to demonstrate their significantly advanced abilities and professionalism with more formal recognition, within the everexpanding arena of clinical care. There is also a hope that individuals will contribute to the research evidence-base as well – there is a lot of responsibility with this, but as clinicians are recognised within the industry, further benefits will undoubtedly follow.”
Nikhil Sisodia, a partner at Ten Dental in London, will be presenting three of the eight modules that make up the course, covering soft tissue management, immediate loading and complex case management. He reiterated the honour of being invited to run this course, adding to what is currently available to UK implant clinicians: “As patient acceptance of implant dentistry grows, the need for clinicians proficient in the management of advanced and complex cases will grow too. Two of the modules I’ll deliver will involve clinical residencies with world-class authorities who have affected my own learning and understanding of implant dentistry in fundamental ways. Delegates will benefit by learning both practical and mental skills that allow a whole new way of considering hard and soft tissue management, bringing previously difficult cases well within their capabilities.”
Fellow lecturer Patrick Palacci, visiting professor at Boston University and head of the Branemark Osseointegration Centre in Marseille, will share his extensive expertise on soft tissue management and aesthetic aspects of treatment. This module will be delivered in his specialist centre in Marseille, where participants will observe a number of live surgeries to gain a realistic idea of potential problems and their solutions. He explains: “With a huge amount of experience between the lecturers of this course, we will be able to share our accumulative experience of thousands of previous cases, ensuring a very practical and complete programme for participants. I believe delegates will leave with a really good foundation for advanced implantology, having significantly improved their knowledge and gained an array of practical tips and new ideas to enhance their treatment provision.”
Globally recognised for his integral contribution to the development of the All-on-4 treatment concept, Professor Paulo Malo, president of the Malo Clinic Health & Wellness, concludes: “The key to success in every field is quality and excellence. It is not enough to be good. To be good is a concept already embedded in our society. The challenge is to
be great, to exceed ourselves and constantly look for the right means to achieve that. Instilling the urge for continuous and progressive growth is the way to do this and this course has that stamp.”