No matter where you’re at, the Australasian Implant Academy (AIA) claims it has all the training components you’ll need for a rewarding career in implantology.

By Danny Chan

If you’re considering a move into the field of implantology, quality post-graduate training is imperative. Before deciding on your options, however, three big questions spring to mind: Where do I start; what do I hope to achieve; and how does the additional training build up my professional capital?

As well as equip you with the knowledge and skills to handle real-world scenarios with all of their clinical complexities, the academic route you choose should enhance, and not limit, your full potential to succeed in this lucrative and rapidly evolving field.

To help broaden your training choices, an Australian-based implant academy aims to deliver a world-class implant course that covers all the bases.

Launched in 2019, the Australasian Implant Academy (AIA) is offering what it claims is the first-ever complete implant placement curriculum in the country. Billed as “the most comprehensive theoretical and hands on implant course in Australia to date”, the curriculum spans the knowledge gap from basic implantology all the way through to full arch immediate load solutions.

“The fully integrated curriculum deep dives into the theory components as well provides compressive practical experience with hands on sessions working with models,” says Dr Ned Restom, AIA’s Founding and Faculty Member.
“Upon course completion, clinicians are able to develop complex treatment planning protocols and confidently place implants for their patients.”

Road to Fellowship

The AIA has adopted and modified programs from the California Implant Institute, offering three fellowship programs that will culminate into a fellowship through the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) Dental School.

The California Implant Institute has trained thousands of clinicians in the field of implantology for over 20 years. Based on 60 evaluation metrics, the UNLV dental program ranks in the top 50 dental schools in the USA.

The Fellowships provide comprehensive theory and hands-on learning with models to prepare clinicians for the American Board exams. In addition, students are able to hone their real-world clinical skills via three live patient surgical externship programs. These include basic and intermediate implant placement, advanced grafting program including sinus and block grafts, PRP and PRF, and Full Arch.

“The knowledge and skills gained during each theory 5-day Fellowship program and practical LIVE patient session, allows clinicians to confidently plan and treat their patients, and the ongoing support and tutelage ensures our students are never left mid-surgery, alone and worried,” Dr Restom assures.

Setting apart their offering from other implant courses, Dr Restom says it is one of the only live patient programs in ANZ and one of the only programs created in collaboration with a local private hospital to train clinicians working on patients under general aesthetics. The AIA also provides access to world-class speakers, high-end medical specialists and top anaesthetists. 

“We are one of the few programs that allocate CE points and prepare clinicians with the knowledge and skills to confidently sit and pass the American Board Exam. Upon completion of the Fellowship Program, clinicians are accredited with the ABOI (American Board of Oral Implantology),” Dr Restom adds.

World-class and home-grown

While one of AIA’s goals is to deliver world-class implantology education by bringing top lecturers from the United States, its teaching faculty also boasts leading local implantologists such as Dr Restom and Dr Dean Licenblat.

Dr Restom is the Principal Dentist at Avoca Beach Dental. He has completed the Master Series in implantology at the California Implant Institute and the surgical externship component including the live All on 4 surgical program. He also earned his accreditation through the Australian Society of Implant dentistry, and completed the Master Series in Implant dentistry at the Brenner Institute.

Dr Licenblat is the Principal Clinician at Sydney Dental Aesthetics & Implants located in Martin Place Sydney. He has completed a Master’s degree in Oral Implantology and Bone Grafting from the Goethe University in Frankfurt and has a teaching appointment with the university, tutoring their graduate students in Australia and New Zealand. Dr Licenblat runs one of a few dental surgeries in Australia to be awarded ‘Leading Implant Centres of the World’.

Every step of the way

Course attendees can look forward to quality lecturers and training, in addition to a mentorship program that includes private sessions with the tutors and a closed group for interaction amongst their own peers.

“The AIA aims to support and mentor the clinician every step of the way from their first treatment plan to the final prosthesis insert,” Dr Licenblat says.

“Clinicians can feel 100% supported when they return to their practices to develop complex treatment planning protocols and confidently place implants for their patients.”

The support doesn’t end even after you graduate. Once a clinician completes any one of the courses at AIA, they will be given exclusive access to the academy’s members-only Facebook group, where both Dr Restom and Dr Licenblat will post weekly tips and techniques for a wide range of patient cases and treatments.  

“Our aim is to foster an ongoing and close community of practitioners in order for all to feel supported throughout their implant journey and to be able to collaborate with their peers as well as specialists in the field,” Dr Licenblat adds.

For all intents and purposes

Whether you are completely new to implantology or an advanced learner, the AIA caters for all levels of knowledge and experience.

“Our program steers the novice clinician from entry level basics and takes them on a comprehensive journey toward the complex treatment planning of advanced grafting and full arch immediate loading techniques,” says Dr Restom.
“The AIA teaches a fully digital workflow to recreate aesthetic and functional outcomes, complementing optimal oral rehabilitation.”

The course is also designed for dentists with prior implant knowledge and experience. Based on positive feedback, Dr Licenblat says that even the intermediate to advance level clinicians who recently attended AIA’s basic course gained immensely from the refresher sessions.

“For those students who are more advanced, we offer advanced implant placement and advanced bone grafting programs, not to mention we've recently introduced a fully bespoke LIVE surgery program, teaching the practitioner the Full Arch immediate loading method,” he adds.
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“This is a complete course that will put you on a rewarding implant journey. Indeed, the course will pay for itself in no time.”

​From their newly launched online portal to dedicated Customer Relationship Managers, Andent is always looking for the best approach to help their customers navigate uncharted waters.

By Danny Chan

Even before COVID-19 descended, Australian dentists were already grappling with myriad challenges, mainly in the shape of fee-lowering insurance companies, corporate buyouts and consolidation, new (digitally savvy) competitors in the neighbourhood and a dominant Gen Y clientele weaned on social media. As compared to the threat of COVID-19, these challenges are no less imposing or unpredictable. In many ways, they can also be deemed as “unprecedented”.

Beset by uncertainty, dentists instinctively search for a sense of stability by erecting structural safeguards around their businesses. According to Matt Smith, one vital bulwark against the unpredictable headwinds is to partner with a reliable, customer-focused and digital-ready dental lab.

Smith is the General Manager of Andent, one of Australia’s most digitally inclined dental labs, also known in the industry as one of the pioneers in the scanning, designing and milling of dental restorations.

“In the same way that Andent has learned to adapt in order to compete, we want to assist our clients to endure these turbulent times by evolving with the realities on the ground,” he says.

Conversations with dentists have traditionally revolved around their cutting-edge processes and technology, 100% Australian-made high-quality work that requires fewer adjustments and their uncompromising standards of aesthetics. While those things remain unchanged, Smith believes that increasingly, dentists are seeking more from their labs than just quality products, but also exceptional and reliable customer support, turnkey solutions and greater convenience.

“It’s simply not enough offering good products at reasonable prices,” Smith says. “Our customer has always been the number one priority and one of our core values is focusing strongly on the customer experience.”

Personal connections

About six years ago, Andent began drawing closer to their clients through engaging Customer Relationship Managers – a staple in the banking sector but less known within dental circles.

“Since our lab services clients across Australia, CRMs help to extend our reach, improve customer engagement and increase customer satisfaction,” Smith explains.

“More importantly, the idea is to take the dentist-lab relationship to the next level. Through the CRMs we are able to establish a personal connection with the dentist.”

Allowing for seamless communication and transfer of products between the lab and practice, the relationship managers are contactable across different time zones and outside regular business hours.

Whether over an email, phone call, zoom conference or in-person meeting, the knowledgeable liaison officers offer end-to-end, personalised customer support for each individual case. When they are not meeting dentists at an expo, CRMs can be found at the client’s surgery talking them through screen shots of a challenging case. 

“Essentially, I function as the bridge between the lab and the dentist,” says Huy Dang, Andent’s Customer Relationship Manager.

“Some dentists are not familiar with the inner workings of a lab. At Andent, we want to make sure they understand the processes, and how we work internally. It’s important that we’re all on the same page so there are no surprises.”

Noting how every dentist operates differently, Dang would establish at the outset the clinician’s preferences for how much – or little – technical support he or she requires so as to tailor the communication approach accordingly. The personalised attention, he stresses, can be individualised to each and every dentist, even within a multi-chair setting.  

Another Plus point

For dentists that prefer online correspondence, Andent recently rolled out a customer service portal that offers increased efficiency and ease-of-transactions. Andent Plus was launched in March as a testament to the lab’s commitment to meet the constantly evolving needs of the Australian dental industry.

“Andent Plus is part of our continuing investment in customer-focused technology. Instead of simply investing in lab-side technologies that make our work easier or those that improve the quality of our products – which we have consistently done and will continue to do so – we are also putting resources into technologies that enhance the customer experience,” Smith emphasises. 

Andent Plus provides customers 24/7 access to real-time updates on the status of their cases. Available as a value-add service at no extra charge, dentists only need to create a free account to begin their online interactions with the lab.

Once they have booked in a case, the dentists would receive a confirmation via email with a note detailing which day the case is scheduled to dispatch. They will get another email, along with tracking number, when the case leaves the lab. In short, you can track your case easily, immediately, at any time of the day.

Andent Plus also acts as a one-stop portal for dentists to access all the relevant information for each case, letting users view all their transactions at one glance. This includes purchase history, invoices (available for downloads), and a convenient e-payment system. Further, customers are able to book a pick-up, submit a digital case, order personalised lab sheets or print them instantly. Case photos and further technical instructions may also be uploaded.

Man or machine: it’s your choice

For all its advantages, Smith says, Andent Plus is but another option with which to interact with the lab, as some dentists may want to review cases after hours, or download invoices and statements at their own convenience – similar to online banking. All the other channels of communication – including easy phone and email access to the technical support team and the personalised assistance of the CRMs – remain intact.

“The portal is about giving people access to information they have come to expect to be available on-hand when they want it,” he says.

“We still want to maintain that strong interaction with all our dentists and customers. End of the day, it’s about building the customer relationship in a way that benefits each individual dentist.”

Real-time reliability

As dentists navigate the new normal business environment in which they now operate – one fraught with sudden lockdowns and unforeseen restrictions – Dang believes that the need for open, transparent and instantaneous communication between dentists and their labs is more imperative than ever.

Andent customers enjoy the added assurance that all their cases are locally made and distributed. During the messier periods of ad hoc restrictions, Dang personally helped clients expedite their cases – such as, when the temporary crowns did not last as long as anticipated – or held back packages when the clinics were abruptly forced to close.

“If you aren’t transparent or able to work to specified deadlines, the client’s business won’t be able to function well,” Dang says. “We offer clockwork service so that dentists know well ahead of time how to rebook their patients, some of whom are booked 4-5 months in advance.”
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“Whether they are using Andent Plus, going directly to a CRM like Huy (Dang)” or even chatting to the amazing team in the lab, Matt adds, “we are all about giving dentists reliability and predictability. And that is something to say, in this day and age.”