How to start your career as an implant dentist

How to start your career as an implant dentist

You ve worked hard for five years at university, enjoyed your moment in cap and gown, and now it s time to get down to business! The vast majority of dental graduates will go on to undertake foundation training within the NHS, followed by either working in a dental practice or entering dental core training. This pathway has been well established over the years, but there is no doubt that times are changing. With the potential for modifications to the NHS contract in the not too distant future, many dentists both new and experienced have concerns about times ahead. Because of this, it seems that more dentists than ever before are looking to add to their skillset, in an effort to prepare for any changes that may come their way. One particularly attractive route is offered by implant dentistry, allowing clinicians to build on their core skills, help patients beyond that of the dental contract since implants are not commonly available on the NHS, and, potentially earn more money within the private sector. 1

Experience & Education Of course, becoming an implant dentist does not happen overnight, and the question then is this: what kind of experience is needed to qualify in implantology? Abhijit Pal, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (FGDP) (UK), provided the answer in his foreword to Training Standards in Implant Dentistry 2016. He wrote that the working group tasked with setting the standards had considered whether a minimum number of completed implant cases needed to be achieved during training to qualify as an implant dentist. Ultimately, they came to the agreement that, It was felt more appropriate that emphasis is given to undertaking an appropriate quality assured course, having an experienced mentor, maintaining a detailed record of the range of training received, having an experiential log, and complying with the principles of lifelong learning. This is reinforced by Prof. Cemal Ucer introduction to the Association of Dental Implantology s A Dentist s Guide to Implantology. Here, he indicates that the basic educational framework for postgraduate implant training comprises: Assessed academic learning Acquisition of clinical skills and competencies at the workplace under supervision of an experienced local mentor Demonstration of clinical activity through an audited logbook and a learning portfolio 2

In order to meet these essential requirements, a variety of organisations have developed courses of varying levels, from one- or two-day CPD introductory courses to more formal and indepth postgraduate educational opportunities at certificate, diploma and master s levels. Many courses organisers will have already taken the above-mentioned, all-important parameters into consideration, but they are worth keeping in mind when choosing your educational pathway. As a starting point for investigation, a number of UK universities provide excellent postgraduate educational opportunities, while the FGDP(UK) offers a diploma in implant dentistry, as does the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It is worth noting that some educational establishments require applicants to have worked as a fully qualified dentist for a minimum number of years before any application will be considered. 3

Cost & Reward There is, naturally, concern among dentists as to the cost of embarking upon and completing implant training, and to what extent and how quickly any outlay can be recouped. As you might expect, costs vary, as does a dentist s ability to break even and then profit from any newly acquired implantology skills. So, this is about taking a calculated risk, balancing income against outgoings and then, once qualified, subtracting any overheads involved with the practice of implant dentistry. One particularly appealing route is to become a dental core trainee. They earn a salary between 36,461 and 46,200, with opportunities for overtime. In addition, extra payments may be available for anyone pursuing specialty training. This, clearly, makes pursuing training while working as a dental core trainee an attractive option, but is not open to everyone as there are limited places. For those who need to fund their own postgraduate training, the cost can be a worry but the future of implant dentistry in the UK looks bright. According to recent market research, worldwide the dental implants and prosthetics market is set to grow by a compound annual growth rate* of 7.3% from 2016 to 2022. Focusing on Europe, the report states: Geographically, Europe is expected to continue being the largest market for dental implants and prosthetics globally during 2016-2022. It is due to growing geriatric population and increasing dental awareness. This then, bodes well for implant dentistry in the UK, but does need to be counterbalanced by potential overheads. The first question to ask yourself is 4

whether you will want to work for someone else placing implants, or set up as an independent business. This, obviously, will make a significant difference to your bottom line. For example, it is obvious that there will be fixed costs in the form of the implant system you choose and its components. An implant drill motor will also be needed, as will a surgical kit. And what about imaging how might you access the necessary equipment, such as Cone Beam Computerised Tomography (CBCT)? Will the practice you work for absorb any or all of these costs, or will you need to bear such expenses? Last, but my no means least, what practice staff will you need, and might you have to pay to get them trained up to assist you? The issues mentioned above are by no means comprehensive, but they do serve to illustrate the kinds of financial challenges any implant dentist might face when starting out and offer considerable food for thought. *The Cambridge Dictionary defines compound annual growth rate as, the rate at which an economy, investment, company, etc. grows over a period of years, based on growth over the previous year. 5

Here To Help The good news is that you don t need to do this alone. The Implant Hub (www.theimplanthub.com), for example, offers unique insight and support when it comes to establishing and building a career in implant dentistry. Offering inspirational advice, as well as business and marketing support alongside educational content from experts in their fields all free of charge this provides a valuable avenue for dentists starting out in implantology, as well as those who have already embarked upon their implant journey. In addition, with The Implant Hub s partner, BioHorizons, there may be opportunities to make some deals, such as paying monthly instalments for their year-long implant course, and great rates for implant equipment and materials bundles in tandem with Henry Schein, so it s always worth asking what might be available to add value to your implant journey. While the costs of starting up in implant practice are nebulous, there seems little doubt the dental implantology is set to grow considerably in the UK over the next few years. If you do your sums carefully every step of the way, and pick your educational and implant partners wisely, it seems likely that both you and your future patients could reap great rewards as a result of you becoming an implant dentist sooner rather than later. 6