ADI Press Release - Training Standards

The General Dental Council’s working group on “Training Standards in Implant Dentistry for General Practitioners” has just released its findings.

The document is a shared publication by the bodies listed below and will be housed at the FGDP. It will be reviewed by the group in 2007.

The independent group consisted of the following parties:

Association of Dental Implantology UK
GDC
FGDP
Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ireland
Association of Consultants and Specialists in Restorative Dentistry

The group had been formed as a result of GDC Education Committee’s increasing concern at the standard of implant dentistry being practised in some areas, the availability of good quality training, and more importantly, patient protection.

ADI President Phil Bennett has gone on record many times to voice his concerns on this very subject.

The ADI is proud to have been closely involved in the creation of this good practice guidance and is indebted to Paul Stone for his work with the group on behalf of the ADI Committee during its creation.

The document’s intent “is not to limit the practice of implant dentistry, which is seen as an important part of treatment options for patients”. It has been published to “ensure patient protection by establishing and maintaining standards of training in implant dentistry”.

Key features

GDPs who wish to train in Implant Dentistry

GDPs should engage a mentor to provide formal training, whose instruction should continue until the mentor feels the student is competent

Two types of implant dentistry:
1. Those that involve minor on-site grafting
2. Those that involve major grafting with alteration of anatomical structures
GDPs must complete (a) before attempting (b) and must attend courses with formal assessment before attempting procedures that require a high level of surgical expertise.

GDPs who already practice implant dentistry

It is recognised many GDPs already have expertise.
Detailed portfolios of training, mentoring and courses must be recorded.

Details of all implant placements and their outcomes must be kept in case of litigation as such portfolios of activity could be used in any disputes on competency including complaints before the GDC.

Following on from the publication of this report, the ADI will now bring forward exciting new proposals on clinical standards, training and recording of implant placements to both satisfy the GDC and to meet the demands of its members.

It is very timely to be addressing the complex issue of registerable qualifications and acceptable standards. The ADI is consistently working to help its members and the wider profession in this direction.

We look forward to making further announcements very soon.