Level 1: Introduction to Implant Dentistry

Level 1 Outline

This introductory online implant training level will provide a foundational understanding of digital implant workflows, including intraoral scanning, clinical photography, and virtual case planning. It will also review the fundamentals of implant design and osseointegration and treatment planning.

At the end of this level, participants will have the foundation necessary to further their implant journey, and are encouraged to move to Level 2, which focuses on the single-tooth posterior implant.

Course Topics

Intraoral Scanning: The Virtual Implant Patient

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
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Essentials of Clinical Photography

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
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Implant Design and Osseointegration

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
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Single-Tooth Implant Treatment Planning, Part I

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.

 

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Single-Tooth Implant Treatment Planning, Part II

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.

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About Our Implant Educators

Christopher Barwacz, DDS

Dr. Christopher Barwacz is an Associate Professor and Chair (DEO) of the Department of Family Dentistry, with a dual appointment in the Craniofacial Clinical Research Program (CCRP) at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics. Dr. Barwacz received his DDS degree from The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics. He obtained his AEGD Certificate from Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center, and subsequently completed an Implant Fellowship at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics. Dr. Barwacz currently serves as the Implant Program Director in The Department of Family Dentistry. He is a Fellow in The Academy of General Dentistry, a Fellow in The International College of Dentists, serves on the Academy of Osseointegration’s Fellowship & Certificate Steering Committee, and is a member of the International Association for Dental Research, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU).

Dr. Barwacz has clinical translational research funding in oral implantology, specifically related to transmucosal factors that optimize implant prosthetic and mucosal outcomes. He maintains an interdisciplinary faculty intramural practice limited to restorative and implant dentistry at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics.

Mark Ludlow, DMD, MS

Dr. Mark Ludlow is the Section Head of Implant Dentistry, Digital Dentistry, and Removable Prosthodontics at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. He completed his DMD dental training at the University of Connecticut and received his MS in prosthodontics from the University of North Carolina. As a practicing and teaching prosthodontist, Dr. Ludlow’s passion is in the development and integration of digital technology in the practice of everyday implant and restorative dentistry.

Michael R. Norton, BDS, FDS, RCS (Ed)

Dr. Michael R. Norton graduated from the University of Wales in 1988. He runs a practice dedicated to implant & reconstructive dentistry in London. He is a specialist in Oral Surgery and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Michael is Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School.

Michael is Past President & Life Fellow of the Academy of Osseointegration (AO) and is Past President (1999-2001) and Honorary Life Member of the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI), UK. He is past editor of the AO’s "Academy News" and is Associate Editor of the "International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants" (JOMI).

Michael maintains a worldwide reputation for his lectures and courses, and is widely published in the literature.

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Explore Other Levels in the Implant Curriculum

Level 2: Posterior Single-Tooth Dental Implant Procedures

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Level 3: Anterior Single-Tooth Dental Implant Procedures

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