School of Dentistry

Preceptors & Fellowships

Dental Implantology Preceptor

The Dental Implantology preceptorship consist of a clinically focused curriculum that incorporates the latest research from the clinical basic sciences. This provides participants with an understanding of the rationale and scientific basis for the clinical practice of implantology. Participants will meet for six weekend sessions, which will include didactic sessions and some hands-on training experiences in an interactive learning environment.

During the preceptorship, participants will:

  • Learn the rationale and scientific basis for the successful clinical practice of implantology
  • Learn about current concepts, principles, and clinical methodology used effectively in practice
  • Learn proper evaluation, diagnosis, and selection of patients for implant placement and restoration
  • Develop and understand specific implant surgical and prosthodontics skills and the different modalities available
  • Manage the more difficult clinical situations, such as patients with advanced maxillary or mandibular atrophy
  • Practice management aspects of dental implantology: records, insurance, informed consent, medical, legal, and marketing considerations

During participation sessions, the preceptorship will feature hands-on exercises that will familiarize preceptors with the surgical and restorative aspects of dental implant systems and prosthetic laboratory techniques. Preceptors will have access to the implant anatomy laboratory so they can familiarize themselves in implant anatomy through dissection and to actually place implants in cadaver models. The co-directors will conduct a two hour diagnostic and treatment planning segment featuring the preceptors’ patient cases at each of the weekend sessions.

Didactic Sessions

  • History and future of dental implantology
  • Three-day classroom/cadaver laboratory exercises
  • Biomechanical and biomaterial aspects of dental implantology
  • Physiology of bone with emphasis on cellular, molecular healing, bone maturation of bone in function and selection of implants with different designs and surfaces relating to bone density and planned Implant function
  • Anatomy of the maxilla, mandible, and TMJ in terms of available bone and anatomy as related to stress distribution
  • Anatomical structures (muscles, nerves, arteries) as they relate to implant placement
  • Philosophies of implant retention and stabilization
  • Essential treatment planning facets, including patient selection, past dental and medical history, essential diagnostic guides (casts, templates, etc.), documentation, appointment sequencing with laboratory, surgeon, restorative dentist. Essentials of joint treatment planning, recall principles.
  • Surgical and prosthodontic considerations including incision design, fixture and abutment selection, occlusal considerations and force transmission
  • Peri-implantitis and its effect on the dental implant from the infective and traumatic aspects
  • Post-restoration responsibilities of staff personnel, hygienist, surgeon and restorative dentist on a recall basis.
  • Includes demonstration of instruments, techniques for post-implant placement, restoration hygiene.
  • Principles in troubleshooting, rescue and retrieval procedures
  • The prosthodontic aspects of diagnosis and treatment planning as well as the clinical communication of this information to the surgeon
  • Procedures for developing optimum esthetics and the biomechanical loading aspects of implant restorations
  • Component systems will be categorized with specific indications for their use.
  • The importance of optimal laboratory support and clinical communication skills to facilitate positive interaction with the dental technician
  • Indications and techniques relating to insertion of implants in single tooth and fresh extraction site situations
  • Hard and soft tissue grafting, guided soft, hard tissue regeneration in both pre- and post-implant placement, including sinus lift procedures
  • Repair of the ailing, failing implant with new regenerative procedures and materials.
  • An overview of informed consent documentation and medical-legal review
  • The principles of practice management, marketing, and insurance considerations
  • An opportunity for your dental hygienist to complete a certification course in dental implant hygiene

Registration

Pre-registration for all courses is necessary. Each participant should pre-register for a course so that a course packet will be available at the time of check-in.

Please call the Office of Continuing Dental Education at (210) 567-3177 to pre-register for a course, or mail the registration form with a credit card number or check made payable to “” to:

Continuing Dental Education, MSC 7930

7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900