Education in implant dentistry

Currently, relatively few dentists are qualified to practice implant dentistry; the demand for dental implants may soon exceed the profession's capacity to deliver this type of treatment. Accordingly, there is a salient need for national standards of education in the field. Implant education varies widely for practicing dentists, postdoctoral students, and predoctoral students. Although many schools are starting to teach implant dentistry in their predoctoral curricula, clinical and laboratory experience is limited. There are not enough trained professors, funding for new departments is limited, and change is often met with resistance. It is anticipated that within the decade, schools will establish departments, divisions, or sections dedicated to education in implant dentistry, despite these obstacles.