University postgraduate training in implant dentistry for the general dental practitioner.

AIMS OF THIS PAPER

This paper aims to: (1) Describe the educational requirements of general practitioners who want to safely and effectively introduce implant dentistry procedures to their practice. (2) Define the necessary competencies and level of complexity that would need to be attained in a postgraduate implant dentistry programme for general dental practitioners. (3) Discuss the programme structures which universities can utilize in order to provide quality education in implant dentistry for general practitioners. (4) Provide guidelines for the resources, content, course format and instructional methods which could be well suited to the educational requirements of such programmes. The authors intend to produce a headline reference guide to outline the necessary educational structures for postgraduate pathways aimed at facilitating the continuous professional development of general practitioners within implant dentistry. This paper does not address issues concerning specialist training or higher research degrees.