Thinking about learning how to place dental implants? That’s a smart move. Dental implants can make a big difference in your patients’ lives—and in your practice. But before you jump in, it’s important to choose the right dental implant course.
The truth is, not all courses are created equal. Some will give you real training, while others might leave you feeling unsure, unprepared, or even frustrated. So how do you choose the right one? Here’s what to look for.
1. You Should Be Placing the Implants—Not Just Watching
If you want to get good at placing implants, you need to actually do it. Watching someone else or assisting in a few cases won’t give you the skill or confidence to do it on your own. You need to use the drill, raise the flap, place the implant—step by step, with your own hands.
A good dental implant course will make sure that you are doing the surgery, not just observing. This is how you build real skill and feel ready to start placing implants in your practice.
2. You Need to Work on Real People—Not Just Models
Practicing on plastic models or pig jaws is a good way to start—but it’s not enough. Every patient is different. Real mouths have different bone levels, soft tissue types, and challenges that you just can’t get from a model.
The best dental implant courses give you the chance to place implants on real patients. This is how you learn what to do when something unexpected happens—and how to work through it with guidance from an experienced mentor.
3. The Course Should Provide the Patients for You
Some courses expect you to find your own patients to treat during training. That can be a huge headache. You might have to get your patients X-rays, medical history, consent forms, and figure out how to fit their cases into the course schedule. That’s a lot to manage on top of learning a new skill.
Instead, look for a dental implant course that provides the patients for you. That way, you can just show up, learn, and focus on placing implants—without all the extra work and stress.
4. There Should Be No Hidden Fees
This is something many dentists don’t find out until it’s too late. Some courses show a low price on their website, but then charge extra later—for things like surgical kits, lab fees, bone graft materials, or even using the patients you treat.
A great dental implant course will tell you upfront what’s included. There should be no surprises. The price you see should cover everything: your training, your materials, your patients, your surgeries. If it’s not clear, ask. You deserve full transparency.
5. You Should Be Able to Follow Up on Your Cases
Placing an implant is only the beginning. What really matters is whether the implant works—if it heals well, integrates with the bone, and supports a strong restoration. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to follow up on your cases.
Many courses don’t talk about what happens after surgery. But you need to know how to check on your patients, evaluate success, and deal with any issues. A good course will teach you what signs to look for and help you understand what long-term success looks like.
6. The Instructors Should Be Real Experts
Make sure the people teaching the course know what they’re doing. They should be dentists who have placed hundreds—or even thousands—of implants, not just people who give lectures. The best instructors have real-life experience and can help you learn from both their successes and their mistakes.
Even better? Find a course where the instructors are available to help you during and after the training. If you have a question months later when you're doing a case in your own clinic, it’s great to know you can reach out and get support.
7. The Course Should Be Made for General Dentists
If you’re a general dentist and you’ve never done surgery before, that’s okay. But then you need a course that’s made for someone like you—not for a specialist or someone with years of surgical training.
Look for a course that starts with the basics and explains everything clearly. It should guide you step-by-step through the full process: how to choose the right case, how to plan the surgery, how to place the implant, how to manage healing, and how to restore the final tooth.
8. Support After the Course Is Just as Important
The learning shouldn’t stop when the course ends. The first few cases you do on your own might feel stressful—and that’s normal. That’s why having post-course mentorship is so valuable.
Look for dental implant courses that offer ongoing support. Whether it’s through a group chat, case reviews, or one-on-one calls with your instructor, that continued guidance helps you keep improving and avoid mistakes in real-life practice.
Final Thoughts
Dental implants can change your practice—but only if you get the right training. Don’t settle for a course that just checks the box. Look for one that gives you:
Real hands-on experience
Patients provided for you
No hidden fees
Follow-up on your cases
Expert instructors who support you
A simple, step-by-step curriculum
Mentorship after the course
When you find a dental implant course that includes all of this, you’re not just learning how to place implants—you’re learning how to do it well, safely, and with confidence. That’s what your patients deserve. And that’s what will make you a better dentist.
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