Our commitment to hands-on surgical experiences separates us from other courses offered around the country. While we emphasize science, literature, and a structured approach to implant education, we believe in a hands-on approach to teaching. Each Friday of the course, starting in the second session, delegates can expect to have mentored clinical experiences (see “Licensure” section). As course delegates develop in their learning curve, both the complexity of cases and the breadth of experiences increase. Generally, we place between 20-50 implants in a weekend with course delegates.

At the beginning of the course, patients are selected who typically require one to two implants placed in abundant bone. As delegates become comfortable with the fundamentals of treatment planning and the mechanics of basic implant placement, patient complexity increases. A major goal of our program is for delegates to develop confidence treating the edentulous arch, especially the edentulous mandible, and patients requiring multiple extractions and immediate implant placement. Delegates can anticipate several experiences in this area.

As the course progresses, residents will learn critical skills for implant success. These include ridge width grafting, sinus elevation, and immediate implant placement in esthetic areas. The combination of didactic education, clinical application, and case review work together to form excellence in education. These define any residency program.

We are pleased to offer full arch same-day teeth protocols to the course (All-On-X). Clinicians are taught to extract teeth, place implants, and restore a smile all in one day. Education includes treatment planning, surgical strategies, photography, digital impressions, printing pinking, prothesis design, and prosthodontic strategies for treatment success.

Excellence in implant dentistry can only be achieved through a fundamental knowledge of the science, followed by ample, ongoing practice.

Our education program in implant dentistry starts with the basics. While many clinicians will have some implant experience prior to the course, it is important to standardize the group and ensure that everyone has a basic understanding of implant dentistry concepts. These concepts include medical evaluation of patients, and physical assessment.

Clinicians must understand biomechanics and force factors to properly treatment plan for successful implants, as well as the biomaterial aspects of the discipline. Following these discussions, implant complications are explored, as well as management. Radiographic assessment is presented to provide clinicians with a range of practical and also advanced techniques for managing implant site analysis. Mechanics of implant placement are covered in depth, as well as suturing and wound closure techniques, both of which are presented in hands-on lab exercises. Other topics include biology of wound healing as it pertains to clinical implant practice, and contemporary concepts of implant integration.

Later in the course, attention is turned to site development. At this point delegates advance from socket grafting to ridge width grafting to sinus elevation. These grafting technique sessions are reinforced with hands-on labs. Didactic information is presented in support of these techniques, such as biology of grafting, graft materials, and biological enhancements, with emphasis on PRF for improved results.

Always, throughout the program, delegates are exposed to extensive treatment planning discussions. Residents will present plans and discuss them with the group in a seminar format. While the emphasis of the program is surgical, considerable time is also spent on restorative aspects of implant dentistry. Clinical opportunities are available for implant restorations as well as surgery.

Michael McCracken, DDS, PhD
Guy Rosentiel, DMD, MAGD
Vic Kyatt, DMD

This course requires a significant investment in time and resources. It is intended for clinicians who wish to develop advanced skills in implant dentistry, and are committed to applying these skills in their practices.

Many of our course delegates recoup their initial investment during the time of the course, and the expectation is that clinicians will realize a return on their investment that generously rewards the time spent in the course. We strive to make sure each clinician is fully equipped to effectively put their implant skills into practice.

Option 1 — Early Bird "Special."

• Cost is $29,500
  Payment is due by December 30 by check or credit card. Clinicians who pay by check receive an additional discount of $350, for a total cost of $29,150. Make checks payable to "PDI".

Option 2 — April Special.

• Cost is $32,250
  Payment is due before April 15 by check or credit card. Clinicians who pay by check receive an additional discount of $350, for a cost of $31,900. Make checks payable to "PDI". A deposit of $4,500 holds your spot.

Option 3 — August Special.

• Cost is $34,500
  Payment is due before August 1 by check or credit card. Clinicians who pay by check receive an additional discount of $350, for a cost of $34,150. Make checks payable to "PDI". A deposit of $4,500 holds your spot.

Option 4 — Regular Tuition.

• Cost is $38,900
  Your credit card is charged monthly beginning August 1. A deposit of $4,500 is required to hold your spot in the course, and is non-refundable. Your credit card will be charged $3,800 on the first of each month until the balance is paid.

Tuition & Registration Policy

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is secured only when payment is received in the office. Clinicians may cancel/drop the course at any time. However, all payments received are non-refundable. Clinicians may make up only 1 missed surgical session by coming to another course.

Licensure
All delegates must be licensed to practice dentistry in in the United States. Proof of licensure is required. 

Insurance
Delegates must contact their insurance carriers to add oure clinic address to their professional liability policy. This address is:

1700 6th Ave North
Bessemer, Alabama 35020

Delegates should maintain $1,000,000 in coverage with $3,000,000 aggregate.

Patient Surgical Experiences

Yes, we operate at every session, with a demo surgery the first session, and up to 20 delegate surgeries at other sessions.

We recruit and provide patients for these sessions, or delegates may bring their own patients. We cannot guarantee this service for every person in every session because many factors are out of our control. However, we have back-up patients and make tremendous effort to provide delegates a surgery each time. We have been very successful at this to date. We provide the patients. We mentor your surgical experience. You learn and excel.

Session Schedule

Thursday, 2-6 pm
Treatment planning for surgical cases, lectures, hands-on exercises

Friday, 8 am-5 pm
Surgical experiences (primarily mentored by Dr. Guy and other clinical faculty) 

Saturday, 8 am-noon
Review surgeries; patient screening; lectures

Hotels/Lodging

Several hotels are readily available in the area, generally some 5-10 miles from the clinical facility.

Many use the following hotels:

• Embassy Suites Birmingham - Hoover
• Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

Session 1 - Basics

Treatment planning; medical evaluation; cone beam CT analysis; hands-on labs; demo surgery

Session 2 - Minor Grafting

Socket grafting; basic site development; biology of wound healing; osseointegration

Session 3 - Ridge Splits

Armamentarium for ridge splits; PRF harvesting and grafting techniques; ridge split techniques

Session 4  - Sinus Grafting

Lateral and crestal approach sinus augmentation; treatment planning; managing complications

Session 5 - Maxillae

Treating the edentulous maxilla; implant placement and restorations; bone density; effective tx plans

Session 6 - Soft Tissue

Grafting materials; techniques for site development; implant esthetics; free gingival grafts; connective tissue

Session 7 - Vertical Grafts

Significant grafts are discussed; managing vertical defects; non-restorable membranes

Session 8 - All-On-X

Digital photogrammetry; photography for case success; same day printing and loading of full-arch cases

Other sessions and lectures include such information as restoring the complete fixed denture, treatment planning for success, marketing, restoring overdentures, demonstration surgeries, more information on sinus grafting, and advanced lateral ridge techniques. (Schedule and lecture content is subject to change without notice depending on the needs and requests of the course participants and faculty.)

Attendance expectations. We recognize that with busy schedules, some delegates may need to miss a session or two. Efforts will be made to reschedule the surgical experience if the delegate wishes to do so and make up the surgery. Delegates may make up one session within a year of the end of the course.