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  Posted by: Dental Design      5th March 2024

It has been estimated that the dental implantology market was worth £3.53 billion in 2023, with its value increasing further to £5.55 billion by 2030.[i] For dental professionals, this represents a massive opportunity to diversify skills and boost earnings, while also growing their businesses. Whether you already provide implants or not, there are significant benefits to starting your journey or advancing your skills in the area. This highlights the importance of lifelong learning and the need to find trustworthy sources of training and support throughout one’s implant career.

Novice to expert

The Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition[ii] sets out five key stages to the adult learning pathway – novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient and expert. Though there has been some debate in the academic community as to how each category would be defined in real life, the model still offers a useful gauge by which to begin assessing skills. For dental practitioners developing within the implant world, it is essential to understand skill level and personal limitations to ensure the provision of safe, effective and ethical patient care. This can also help to guide development goals and on-going education, ensuring that individuals seek courses and mentorship in the most relevant areas for them.

Of course, dentists are responsible for seeking out the necessary training to deliver implant treatment, as the modality is rarely covered in the undergraduate curriculum.

A recent study[iii] suggested that some of the most common barriers to undergraduate education in the field for dental schools are costs, limited time and liability insurance restricting the teaching programme. This means that clinicians must identify and invest in quality training separately, ensuring that their education is appropriate for their skill level and current competency.

Even for those who don’t perform implant placement, it’s still necessary to understand implant maintenance, with a growing number of patients likely to have undergone related treatment elsewhere. This is something that many dentists remain less confident about in general practice,[iv] once again emphasising the need for high-quality education in the field.

Technology is increasingly becoming a part of dental education, especially when it comes to implantology. The use of augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence is changing the way that cases are diagnosed and treatment planned or executed.[v] Its use during the clinical workflow also means that practitioners must learn how to operate digital equipment and successfully integrate it into the treatment journey for the best patient outcomes.

A platform for learning

The Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) is the UK’s only independent network and membership organisation for implant dentistry. It is dedicated to supporting and providing professional education, ultimately elevating the standard of care delivered to patients.

As part of the Association’s activities for 2024, the ADI will be hosting the ADI Implantology Zone at BDIA Dental Showcase – held on 22^nd-23^rd March at the ExCeL London. This will be the perfect platform from which to discover the latest products, materials and technologies in the field, with various exhibitors showcasing innovative solutions – digital and otherwise. Dental professionals will be able to gain hands-on experience and watch demonstrations, with product experts available to answer specific questions where needed.

The ADI Implantology Theatre will also offer a comprehensive programme of sessions, with leading names in the discipline exploring everything from getting started with implants to advancing skills and building a successful business. There will be information and advice for all members of the dental implant team to benefit from, so be sure to bring all appropriate colleagues along!

Not only will you be able to enhance your knowledge and skills at BDIA Dental Showcase, but there will also be a network of professionals who share your passion of implantology to connect with. Whether you are looking for a clinical mentor, you have questions about marketing your services or you wish to take your capabilities to new heights, the ADI community will be integral to your personal and professional growth. Several committee, board and general members will be in attendance, offering a fantastic opportunity to engage with them and set your career development in motion.

Kick-start your implant career

Regardless of whether you place or restore dental implants in practice, or if this is an area you would like to progress into, it is important that you find high-quality education to guide your skill advancement. It can also prove beneficial to connect with a network of colleagues who have experience in the discipline and can share their experiences and advice on educational pathways.

For more information about the ADI, visit www.adi.org.uk

To register for BDIA Dental Showcase 2024, please visit www.dentalshowcase.com

[i] Fortune Business Insights. Medical device. Dental Implants Market. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/dental-implants-market-100443 [Accessed December 2023]

[ii] Dreyfus S, Dreyfus H. A five stage model of the mental activities involved in directed skill acquisition. California University Berkeley Operations Research Center [monograph on the Internet]; 1980.

[iii] Hare A, Bird S, Wright S, Ucer C, Khan RS. Current Undergraduate Dental Implantology Teaching in UK. Dent J (Basel). 2022 Jul 5;10(7):127. doi: 10.3390/dj10070127. PMID: 35877401; PMCID: PMC9324480.

[iv] Jayachandran S, Walmsley AD, Hill K. Challenges in dental implant provision and its management in general dental practice. Journal of Dentistry. 2020; 99,; 103414,; ISSN 0300-5712

[v] Ferro, Ana Santos, Nicholson, Ken and Koka, Sreenivas (2019) Innovative Trends in Implant Dentistry Training and Education: A Narrative Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8 (10). 

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