Modern patients want their lives changed – fast

A fast-paced world

The advent of internet technologies, widespread digitisation and more effective modes of communication has meant that the vast majority of society has become accustomed to fast service. Whether that’s ordering an item online and receiving it the next day, getting in touch by sending an instant message or even having the ability to perform tasks such as paying bills online – we now live in a society of immediacy.

Interestingly, this has had a tangible impact on people’s attitudes. A study that assessed a sample of 2,000 British individuals found that technology had made people significantly more impatient – so much so that they became irate after just 16 seconds of waiting for a web browser to load.[i]

This fast pace of life has also translated into how businesses operate. With people expecting instant gratification, businesses have had to adapt. Even in dentistry where it is inevitable that some treatments will take a longer time period to complete, patient expectations have shifted, meaning that fast, life-changing treatments are becoming highly sought-after.

Meeting modern patient demand

It’s interesting to observe that as modern expectations and patience levels have shifted, the oral healthcare needs of the population have changed alongside. The ageing population of the UK means that, although rates of edentulism are on decline, almost three quarters of adults are still missing one or more teeth.[ii] As such, there is still the need for professionals to be able to offer trusted, long-lasting solutions to tooth loss.

For many, this will mean considering dental implant surgery, especially as these therapies offer a number of advantages over removable prostheses. But how can dental implant treatment be provided that reflects modern attitudes and meets these expectations while still providing a high-quality result?

In recent years, immediate loading has become an increasingly practical option for patients receiving dental implant surgery. Immediately loading dental implants where clinically viable is now a trusted way to streamline treatment, shorten healing times and provide an aesthetic, functional resolution to edentulism that is comfortable, too. In cases where tooth extraction is indicated before rehabilitation, immediately loaded implants have been found to help prevent the atrophy of the alveolar ridge and eliminate the need to wait for regeneration of the osseous structure.[iii]

Where tooth loss has previously occurred, immediate loading is also beneficial. There is no difference in survival rates between immediately loaded and conventionally loaded implants,[iv] and the tangible benefits of faster treatment and shorter healing times have been found to result in high levels of patient satisfaction post-procedure.[v]

Immediate loading – what to know

As with any case, there are various factors that can influence whether an individual is suitable for the immediate loading technique. Bone quality and quantity are vital considerations in these cases, as are the primary stability of the implant after placement, the number and design of said implants, and occlusal loading. Fundamental to success is the surgeon having the skills and knowledge to provide this treatment method, as well as the knowledge necessary to identify the cases where this technique can be best utilised.[vi]

The Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Implant Dentistry (EduQual levl 7) course from Ucer Education is the perfect option for clinicians looking to learn how to provide this technique. Taught by the renowned Professor Cemal Ucer, this 12-day programme is taught over the course of a year and equips professionals with the up-to-date knowledge and skills they need to be able to provide immediately loaded dental implants in the correct cases.

Delegates will be taught in the Centre for Oral-Maxillofacial and Dental Implant Reconstruction – a cutting-edge facility that offers access to all of the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, including a digital laboratory with 3D printing capabilities.

Ensuring your future in the modern world

In an age that values swift treatment and exceptional results, dental implantology is able to meet the demand for high-speed treatment and functional, long-lasting results. By learning how to provide immediate loading in dental implantology, clinicians will be able to cater to patients with these expectations.

Please contact Professor Ucer at ucer@icedental.institute or Mel Hay at mel@mdic.co

01612 371842

www.ucer-clinic.dental

Prof. Cemal Ucer, BDS, MSc, PhD, FDTFEd., ITI Fellow, Specialist Oral Surgeon

Cemal Ucer first established an implant referral centre in 1995. He was awarded an MSc in Implantology at Manchester Dental Hospital following his research into guided bone regeneration and osteopromotion. He later gained a PhD for his clinical and laboratory studies into the factors affecting the success of implant treatment in iliac grafts and the investigation of the effect of skeletal bone density on implant survival. He has personally trained and mentored more than 1,000 dentists in implant dentistry as one of the main providers of implant education in the UK.

Cemal’s current clinical research interests include immediate implant placement, reconstructive bone surgery, nerve damage and the effect of bone density on the success of implant treatment. Academically, he has gained European recognition for his work on the development of a new framework for teaching and assessment of clinical competence in implantology. He is a co-author of the consensus paper produced by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) following the first pan-European collaboration between EU universities to establish common training and assessment standards in dental implantology. He is an invited member of the working group convened by the FGDP (UK) and the General Dental Council (GDC) to update the Training Standards in Implant Dentistry (TSID) guidelines in 2012 and 2016.

Cemal is a Fellow of the Dental Trainers Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and a member of Megagen’s MINTEC UK & I Board for education and clinical research. He is a member of the editorial board of JOMR (Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research) and the chair of the editorial advisory board of Implant Dentistry Today. Cemal is Professor and Clinical Lead of the MSc programme in Dental Implantology and a member of the Faculty of Examiners of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s Diploma in Implant Dentistry. He is a past president of The Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) (2011-2013).

Cemal has been appointed by FGDP (UK) to lead the working group to develop the “national standards in implant dentistry” which is due to be published later in 2018 following the completion of an external consultation process.

[i] StudyFinds. Hurry up! Modern patience thresholds lower than ever before, technology to blame. Link: https://studyfinds.org/hurry-up-modern-patience-thresholds-lower-than-ever-before-survey-finds/ [Last accessed November 22].

[ii] Dentaly. Interesting Facts about Teeth and UK Dental Statistics. Link: https://www.dentaly.org/en/dental-facts-statistics/#:~:text=Well%2C%20if%20you’re%20missing,don’t%20get%20too%20smug. [Last accessed November 22].

[iii] Singh, M. et al. Immediate dental implant placement with immediate loading following extraction of natural teeth. Natl J Maxillofac Surg. 2015 Jul-Dec; 6(2): 252–255.

[iv] Hynh-Ba, G. et al. Immediate loading vs. early/conventional loading of immediately placed implants in partially edentulous patients from the patients’ perspective: A systematic review. Clinical Oral Implants Research; 29 (S16): 255-269.

[v] Rutkowski, R. et al. Success and patient satisfaction of immediately loaded zirconia implants with fixed restorations one year after loading. BMC Oral Health 22, 198 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02231-0.

[vi] Tettamanti, L. et al. Immediate loading implants: review of the critical aspects. Oral Implantol (Rome). 2017 Apr-Jun; 10(2): 129–139.