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 delegate

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.

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 - Save $9,400!

• Cost is $29,500
  A deposit of $4,500 holds your spot in the course, which can be paid using a credit card below. April 15 for courses starting in August. 

Option 2 — Pre-Payment in Full - Save $3,650!

• Cost is $32,250
  A deposit of $4,500 holds your spot in the course, which can be paid using a credit card. Balance is due before August 1. 

Option 3 — Regular Tuition. Investing in your education is always a good idea.

• Cost is $38,900
  A deposit of $4,500 holds your spot in the course. Your credit card will be charged monthly until balance is paid beginning August 1. 

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.

Financing

Clinicians wishing to finance the course can, as an option, contact:

Mr. Jonathan Strickland, Vice president
Cadence Bank
6801 Cahaba Valley Rd., Birmingham, Alabama.
Phone (205) 981-4700
[email protected].

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 - Ridge Grafting

Socket grafting; lateral ridge grafting; biology of wound healing; grafting materials; membranes

Session 2 - Ridge Splits

Grafting materials; techniques for site development; block graft overview; ridge splitting techniques; PRF and other blood-derived membrane products

Session 3  - Soft Tissue

Recognizing and repairing soft tissue defect; soft tissue augmentation; tissue harvesting; anterior esthetics

Session 4 - Sinus Grafting

Sinus anatomy and biology; augmentation techniques, intra-osseous sinus lift procedures; lateral window procedures

Session 5 - Complications

Advanced wound closure; medical emergencies; anesthesia; focus on complications from sinus augmentation

Session 6 - Maxilla

Treating the edentulous maxilla; implant placement and restorations; bone density; effective tx plans; all-on-four techniques (tilted implants)

Session 7 - Guided Surgery

Single- tooth implant guides, bone and tissue-level guides, full arch cases, in-office planning, and immediately loaded restorations. 

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.