Level 1: Introduction to Implant Dentistry

With Mark Ludlow, DMD, MS

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of intraoral scanning techniques with special emphasis on their use in implant treatment. A review and comparison of the conventional implant restorative workflow to one that implements digital technology will be explored. Additionally, this course will cover key topics including correct scanning pathways, how to position yourself and the patient, and how to troubleshoot technical issues. Please join to learn what your future can hold with the flexibility and simplicity of intraoral scanning.

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand how the use of an intraoral scanner in conjunction with a scan body can streamline and simplify the implant restorative workflow
• Identify tips and nuances to improve your intraoral scanning
• Discuss how implementing digital technology as part of your restorative technique can decrease patient visits and reduce chairtime

With Chris Barwacz, DDS

With the advent and maturation of digital photography, its associated workflows have increasingly become adopted in dentistry. Digital photography provides clinicians with a unique and powerful tool that can rapidly aid in diagnosis and treatment planning, enhance patient and interdisciplinary communication, serve as a medicolegal record, and facilitate documentation for educational or promotional uses. In order to maximize the benefits that digital photography can bring to one’s practice, it is incumbent upon the clinician to become proficient and comfortable with operating digital photographic equipment. This course will provide a didactic overview of digital photography and its applications within restorative dentistry, as well as photographic setups, retraction methods, and methods for troubleshooting challenging clinical photographic scenarios.

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Understand principles of digital photography, contemporary equipment options, and the advantages that this tool can have in your practice’s workflow
• Discuss protocols for leveraging restorative digital documentation to facilitate improved interdisciplinary and patient communication to improve clinical outcomes
• Review how digital photography can serve as an adjunctive component of the medicolegal record of treatment, and promotion of one’s clinical achievements for educational or practice management purposes

With Michael Norton, BDS, FDS, RCS (Ed)

Osseointegration was said to be a direct contact between vital bone and the surface of a load-carrying implant, but in truth, it involves more than a bioinert integration. A greater understanding of the biological, biomechanical, and most recently, the immunological interaction between implant and bone has led to a clearer understanding of how to optimize osseointegration and develop an implant that protects bone. Throughout the history of implantology, there has been a widespread acceptance of marginal bone loss down to the first thread. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, including an initial adaptation to load, influence of microleakage at the implant-to-abutment junction, and the establishment of a peri-implant biologic width. This presentation will focus on both the theoretical and clinical evidence that will expose the truth about osseointegration and how an optimal implant surface and implant design can ensure marginal bone maintenance.

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the impact of implant design on tissue response
• Understand the importance of surface technology
• Appreciate the clinical relevance of these concepts

With Chris Barwacz, DDS

This course will highlight clinical factors that directly influence treatment planning of single-tooth implants. Part 1 provides an introduction to implant treatment planning from a restoratively driven perspective, and covers the edentulous space, and inter-radicular and alveolar ridge dimensions. Presurgical identification of these factors will help lead to consistent and predictable interdisciplinary treatment planning, while communication and support will help lead to more optimal treatment outcomes once treatment begins. 

This is part 1 of a two-part course. Please complete this course first.

With Chris Barwacz, DDS

This course will expand upon the clinical factors that directly influence treatment planning of single-tooth implants from a restoratively driven perspective. Part 2 covers gingival zenith position, interproximal attachment levels, mucosal display, and phenotype, as well as implant type and diameter. Presurgical identification of these factors will help lead to consistent and predictable interdisciplinary treatment planning, while communication and support will help lead to more optimal treatment outcomes once treatment begins. 

This is part 2 of a two-part course. Please complete part 1 before beginning this course.