Surgical and Prosthetic Implant Treatment Program

Our Surgical and Prosthetic Implant Treatment Program is a one-year training program designed for internationally-licensed dentists who wish to enhance their education in the field of Implant Dentistry. This program consists of lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions and clinical practice in both the surgical and prosthetic phases of implant treatment.

This program is offered at two levels of participation: full clinical participation and observation only. Participants who wish to join at the level of full clinical participation must obtain an Education License/Certificate from the RCDSO and will be given the opportunity to treat patients. Meanwhile, participants who join for observation only will not be permitted to treat patients.

Successful completion of this program will result in the participant receiving a Certificate of Completion of the Surgical & Prosthetic Implant Treatment Program from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. This certificate does not confer specialty or advanced degree status.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Didactic Component of Program

The didactic component of this program is made up of seminars and lectures, divided into six modules.

Module 1 - Biomaterials, Tissue Biology and Tissue Engineering

Mechanical properties and interpretation of stress/strain considerations in implant treatment Bone and its cells. Optimizing bone healing around dental Implants.

Session I:

• Bone and its cells.
• Optimizing bone healing around dental implants.

Session II:

• Biomaterials used in dental implant fabrication.
• The past, present and future.
• Early healing events around dental implants.
• How surface geometry affects outcomes.
• Bone quality and implant design considerations.
• Growth factors and optimizing dental implant treatment.
• Coronal bone remodeling and implant design.
• Barrier and graft materials used to promote optimal bone healing around dental implants: A Periodontist’s perspective.
• Barrier and graft (autograft, allograft, xenograft and alloplastic) materials used to promote optimal bone healing around dental implants: An oral surgeon’s perspective.
• Bone growth inducers and implant dentistry: What does the literature tell us?
• Ridge preservation, Novel approaches using “old” principles.
• Implant designs and surface geometry in promoting efficient and optimal implant integration as well as long-term stability of the bone-implant interface.
• Esthetic Concepts and developments in dental implant design.

Module 2 - Clinical Treatment: Records and Preparation

• Patient history and record collection in preparation for implant treatment.
• Prosthodontic planning for successful implant dentistry.
• Pharmacologic considerations in implant treatment.
• Preparation for digital format case presentations. A suggested template.
• Management of periodontal and other dental diseases prior to implant treatment.
• Radiography for Implants.

Module 3 - Prosthodontic Restoration and Follow-up of the Implant Patient

• Prosthodontic management of the mandibular implant-retained overdenture.
• Prosthodontic management of the maxillary implant-retained overdenture.
• Fixed restorations of implants: implant placement guides, types and management of temporary partial prostheses, impression-taking, and laboratory procedures.
• Castings, indexing/soldering, porcelains and prosthesis design including mechanics of implant components and splinting vs. no splinting.
• Prosthodontic, esthetic, laboratory and occlusal issues relating to the single tooth implant.
• Implant patient maintenance.
• Recognizing and managing periimplant complications with poroussurfaced dental implants.
• Prosthodontic, esthetic, laboratory and occlusal issues relating to the multiple implant fixed implant supported restoration.
• Minimizing and dealing with prosthodontic complications.
• Prosthodontic maintenance for implant patients.
• Introduction on different types of implant retained/supported overdentures and a detailed clinical and laboratory procedures of milled-bar overdenture.
• Common clinical situations a general dentist may encounter with implant treatment and their prevention and solution.

Module 4 - Clinical Treatment: Surgical Techniques for Implant Site Development and Implant Placement

• Surgical technique with threaded implant designs followed by a live or video demo. Techniques for augmentation of the edentulous ridge with block grafts of autogenous bone.
• Surgical technique with porous-surfaced dental implants.
• Osteotome techniques for dealing with the maxillary sinus and dental implant placement.
• Sinus grafting in preparation for dental implants.
• The maxillary sinus. A medical perspective on risks, complications and thei management.
• One–stage vs two-stage implant placement with porous-surfaced implants.
• Optimizing treatment outcomes.
• One-stage vs two-stage implant placement with threaded implants.
• Optimizing treatment outcomes.
• Immediate implant placement with threaded implants. Optimizing outcomes.
• Clinical advantages with porous-surfaced dental implants.
• Optimizing soft tissue esthetics around dental implants.
• Immediate implant placement with porous-surfaced implants.
• Optimizing outcomes.
• Immediate implant function. Rationale and scientific background considerations.
• Immediate implant function. Clinical outcomes reported to date.
• Immediate loading of threaded implants in the esthetic zone.
• Tooth-in-an-Hour™ (Nobel Biocare Procera Software Program and Nobel Guide Surgical Procedure).

Module 5 - Evidence from Clinical Trials

• Clinical trial outcomes with threaded implant designs.
• Clinical trial outcomes with bullet-shaped implant designs.
• Clinical trial outcomes with sintered porous-surfaced implant designs.
• Risk factors and causes of dental implant failure.

Module 6 - Special Considerations for the Complex Implant Treatment

• Transitional implants and treatment delivery.
• Dental implants in facilitating orthodontic treatment.
• Issues relating to the ethical, safe and effective practice of implant dentistry in a private practice setting.

Additionally, participants will be required to partake in weekly literature review presentations to the teaching staff and graduate residents in Periodontics. Furthermore, at the end of the program, participants may be asked to prepare a final presentation relating to issues covered in the course.

Clinical Component of Program

The clinical component of this program includes screening and treating patients, or assisting in patient treatment. Only participants who have obtained an Education License/Certificate from the RCDSO are permitted to treat patients or assist in the treatment of patients. Participants without a license will only be permitted to observe these activities.

The clinical training included in this program aims to familiarize participants with a limited range of basic implant procedures:

• treatment planning,
• preparation of surgical placement guides, 
• ridge retention procedures at the time of tooth extraction at sites intended for later implant placement, and 
• the surgical and prosthetic procedures associated with the placement of implants in single tooth, short-span partially edentulous, indirect sinus elevation and implant-retained mandibular overdenture situations.

Given that patients are not specifically selected for this program, participants may or may not be assigned patients for every type of implant treatment discussed in the didactic portion of this program. Participants will only be assigned patients for uncomplicated implant procedures. For more advanced procedures, participants have the option of assisting periodontic residents performing the treatment. 

At the end of the program, participants will be asked to prepare a digital dossier of patient treatments as a series of case reports including photographic records of the treatment provided.

Duration

The duration of this program is 12 months. The next start date is June 2024 (to be confirmed).

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to be considered for this program, applicants must submit a completed Application Form and supporting documentation to CDE via email by the application deadline date. All documents (except photo) must be submitted as PDF files.

Application Form

Review and verification of documentation may take 3-5 business days upon receipt. Once completed, an email will be sent to notify applicants if their application is complete, or if anything is still pending.

Application Fee

Total application fee: $0

Dental Degree/Diploma & Transcripts

A copy of your degree/diploma and your official transcripts from a minimum four-year university dental program. Degrees/diplomas and transcripts that are not in English must be submitted with a certified translation.

English Proficiency

If your dental school instruction was not in English, you must provide documentation of English language proficiency by completing an English proficiency test.

Test results are valid for 2 years from the date of the exam.

1. TOEFL iBT (includes iBT Home Edition): A minimum total score of 100 is required with a minimum of 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking, 24 in Listening, and 24 in Reading.
2. IELTS (Academic): A minimum Overall Band Score of 7.5 is required with no band lower than 7.0 in each of the four sections.
3. CELPIP: A minimum overall score of 8.0 is required with no component score lower than 8.0 in each of the four sections.

Resume / CV

A resume/CV summarizing your Dental Education, your Professional Dental Experience, any Continuing Dental Education courses, and other Additional Information, such as awards, publications, affiliations, etc. 

Letter of Intent / Statement of Interest

A letter of intent, describing your reason for participating in this program, and how it relates to your academic background, career goals, and qualifications.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters should consist of: 

• One letter by a recognized dental faculty member or a specialist in the field.
• One letter of choice. This additional letter should be from an instructor or similar individual who is able to evaluate the applicant’s knowledge, skill, character, and potential for success in the program.

Letters should include an assessment of the applicant’s dental background, knowledge, skill, character, and potential for success in the program. Letters must be signed and on official letterhead. Only letters written in English will be accepted.

Photo

A recent passport-size colour photo with a white background. Submit a high-quality version of the photo. (Accepted file formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG.)

FEES & DEADLINES

All fees must be made in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Application Fee

Total application fee: $0

Tuition Fee

Total tuition fee for full clinical participation: $65,000 (unconfirmed)

Total tuition fee for observation only: $45,000 (unconfirmed)

Payment Schedule

Tuition fee can be paid in three separate installments:

Refunds

Application fee is non-refundable.

Tuition fee refunds may be provided in the case where reasonable attempts to obtain visa and/or Educational License have been made and were unsuccessful. Proof of such attempts must be provided to our department in order for a refund to be considered.

Failure to meet the tuition fee deadlines will result in the cancellation of your position in the program. No refunds will be issued in this case.

Additionally, regardless of reason, no refunds will be issued after the start date of the program.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

1.  Application

In order to be considered for the program, applicants must:

• Meet all program Application Requirements
• Submit completed Application Form and all supporting documents for review to: continuinged@dentistry.utoronto.ca

2.  Interview

Applicants are invited to interview by personal invitation only and will be notified via email if they are selected. The email invitation will include scheduling instructions and further details. Interviews will be in-person if possible, or online via Zoom.

Please note: Candidates are required to interview for further admission consideration.

3.  Decision Process

Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria: 

• academic achievements, 
• English language proficiency, 
• content of letters of recommendation, 
• strong work ethic, and 
• outstanding interpersonal strengths.

3.  Acceptance

Applicants who meet the standards for acceptance into the program will be provided a letter of acceptance via email. 

A position in the program will only be secured when applicant has paid the deposit fee.

Acceptance will be on a rolling basis until the program is full.

POST ADMISSION

Participants of this program are responsible for securing their own Canadian study permit and/or temporary dental license (if applicable).

Study Permit

Participants of this program must have the proper documentation allowing them to enter into Canada and study here. This usually involves obtaining a study permit. Further information on this topic can be found on the Government of Canada website (Study in Canada as an international student).

The University of Toronto is considered a designated learning institution (DLI) by the Government of Canada. The DLI number for the University of Toronto is O19332746152. For more information, please see the Government of Canada's list of DLIs.

You may also check the current estimated processing times of immigration applications.

Temporary Dental License

Participants who wish to join at the level of full clinical participation must obtain an Education License/Certificate from the RCDSO for the duration of the program (see RCDSO website for further information).

Participants should apply for their temporary licenses as soon as they are accepted into the program as the committee reviewing the applications meets on an infrequent basis and it may take several months for a decision to be reached by the committee. Upon acceptance into the program participants will be provided with license application information. Until a temporary license is obtained participation in the clinical aspect of the course will be limited to observer status. The University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry, does not guarantee that participants will receive a temporary license and failure to receive this license is not justification for a tuition refund or reduction.

CONTACT US

This program is organized by Continuing Dental Education at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto.

For inquiries, please contact us:

Phone: +1 416-864-8100
continuinged@dentistry.utoronto.ca