Theoretical knowledge in implant dentistry for undergraduate students

Abstract

Implant therapy has evolved into an important part of daily dental practice. Appropriate knowledge of diagnostic and therapeutic options with dental implant therapy is, therefore, mandatory for dental students. The present consensus paper describes the theoretical knowledge as a foundation to the teaching of implant dentistry at the undergraduate level. Students need a solid basic knowledge about biological prerequisites and clinical procedures leading to successful implant treatment and, in particular, an understanding of the importance of embedding implants into the overall treatment concept. Among others this includes aspects of bone and soft tissue integration of dental implants, as well as aspects of materials that are used in implant dentistry. The students should also be able to differentiate between low, medium and high‐risk situations, which assumes that they have knowledge about a proper clinical examination. Furthermore, the students need to be able to inform the patient about the different treatment options and their advantages and disadvantages. Frequently, a choice has to be made between an FDP anchored on teeth and an implant‐borne reconstruction. This is highly influenced by the long‐term prognosis of the different treatment options. In order to perform implant placement in uncomplicated cases and to give appropriate patient information, adequate knowledge of surgical procedure and surgical complications is mandatory. Furthermore, the dentist needs to be competent in evaluating clinical situations and in advising patients about the suitability of the different options, e.g. removable or fixed reconstructions. It is possible that peri‐implant tissue destruction may be a more common finding during long‐term service of implant‐borne reconstructions than was previously believed. The dentist needs knowledge about etiology and pathogenesis of peri‐implantitis and should know how to provide an effective maintenance care programme. In cases of peri‐implantitis the student should be knowledgeable regarding suitable interventions.

Implant dentistry education in Europe: 5 years after the Association for Dental Education in Europe consensus report

“…Comparison between studies about undergraduate implant education in 1974 (25) (24) indicate more undergraduate curricula are integrating implant education. The current study also suggests that the volume of teaching is expanding, presumably as a reaction on the demand to educate general dentists to diagnose, provide information and perform basic procedures (7). This process in Europe may also been further facilitated by the developed ADEE guidelines as a result of the first consensus workshop.…”

“…These programmes have on average 72 ECTS credits, ranging 12 from 180. Respondents reported on average 9.5 students (range [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] in the final year of study. Three of 11 respondents (27%) acknowledged that implant dentistry is a recognised specialty in their country, and 82% of the respondents (9/11) reported that the postgraduate programme has an official university recognition.…”

“…Academic leaders agreed on the recommendation that implant dentistry should be taught in undergraduate education (1). It should include the fundamental principles of implant therapy, enabling graduates to integrate implant treatment into an overall concept of comprehensive care, to identify indications and contraindications and to inform patients about the treatment options (7). The educational approach used should be in line with modern insights about curriculum development, for example, competence-based education, student-centred, evidence-based, interdisciplinary, case-based and/or problembased learning (5).…”

Dental Implants and General Dental Practitioners of Nepal: A study of existing knowledge and need for further education

“…In cases of periimplantitis, they should have knowledge regarding suitable interventions. 11 The monitoring and maintenance of those implants may fall upon GDPs. 12 Fortunately, a vast majority of the GDPs surveyed thought that they, at least, have a role in educating patients about dental implants and in suggesting the option of dental implants to patients where appropriate.…”

European Core Curriculum in Cariology for Undergraduate Dental Students

“…It is the task of the various dental disciplines to formulate their own specific curriculum for the education of dental students. With regard to the education of undergraduate dental students, in various dental fields European curriculum guidelines have been prepared over the last decade but not for cariology [4,5,6,7,8]. …”