Eleven‐Year Report on a Predoctoral Implant Dentistry Program

Abstract Purpose: An elective program on implant dentistry was started in the summer of 1994 at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry (UDM). The program provides comprehensive didactic and clinical training in implant dentistry to a select group of senior dental students. This study describes the program and clinical results of the first 11 years of the elective program in implant dentistry at UDM. Materials and Methods: The program is 1 year long and is offered to a group of 10 senior students out of a class of 72. In addition to a one‐semester lecture course offered to all dental students, students in the elective program participate in a one‐semester seminar which includes literature review and “hands‐on” surgical and prosthodontic components. Patients are assigned during the summer term to students who work in pairs. Students actively participate in diagnosis and treatment planning, assist in surgery, and accomplish the prosthodontic procedures. Prosthodontic services include single‐tooth restorations, multiple‐unit fixed restorations, overdentures, and full‐arch fixed prostheses. A retrospective analysis of the patients treated in the first 11 years of the program was conducted. Results: During the first 11 years of the program, 159 implants were placed in 70 patients. There were a total of 10 failed implants in seven patients (failure rate 6.3%): eight implants prior to loading and two following loading. Minor complications included gold screw loosening, gold screw fracture, porcelain fracture, and soft tissue inflammation, which occurred in less than 5% of the patients. Conclusions: The rates of implant failure and complications in the first 11 years of the elective implant program at UDM appear to be within an acceptable range when compared to other educational programs and studies reported in the dental literature.