PROSTHETIC RECONSTRUCTIONS AND REFERRING IMPLANT SURVIVAL IN A POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM : A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
Figure 1 . Distribution of implants placed in the maxilla and the mandible
and was performed by specialists in oral surgery , maxillofacial surgery and by periodontists 12 while prosthdodontists took an active role if patients were to be prosthetically restored with implants 13 . Such publications demonstrate the clear trend toward teaching implantology at universities and dental schools , otherwise they illustrate that there remain great variations how education in implant dentistry is provided for undergraduate students . In some schools teaching consists either exclusively in lecture-based theory or they include Typodont model and laboratory training while clinical interaction with patients and delivering implant supported restorations is not yet the standard . Implant placement by students is rarely reported and electively performed 6 , however the students attend the surgical procedures as clinical observers 4 . Today , local and international courses for general practitioners and specialists , master programs offered by dental schools and dental associations or by private organizers are announced worldwide and various specialty degrees and diplomas can be obtained . Furthermore , courses are often sponsored by the industry 14 . Global standards for quality criteria or competency levels of such education and training programs are not available . The International Team for Implantology ( ITI ) published a grading system that classifies the surgical and prosthodontic procedures into straightforward , advanced , complex ( SAC ) 15 . Consensus conferences were also held and attempts made to establish teaching goals and to look at further needs and development in implant training . They summarize to what extent knowledge should be provided , and the level of skills that should be reached by undergraduate and postgraduate students 10 , 16-18 . Guidelines were proposed by various dental associations such as the American Academy of Implant Dentistry 1 . In this context , the aim of this retrospective study was to analyze frequency distribution of implantsupported prosthetic reconstructions and referred implant survival of implants placed from graduate students in a university training program .
2 . Methodology 2.1 . Admission to the program A structured postgraduate program in prosthodontics and implant dentistry was established at the former Department of Prosthodontics , University of Bern , Switzerland . This comprehensive curriculum comprises prosthetic therapy and implant-surgery in one University clinic during a minimum of 3 years . The admission criteria for the program are that the graduate students have completed firstly a two yaer-clinical training in general dentistry , which includes training in oral surgery and secondly a doctoral thesis as general dentist ( Dr . med . dent .). The focus was on problem based teaching and evidence-based , patient-centered comprehensive treatment . Furthermore , a scientific article had to be published by the graduate student or the university must have accepted another thesis . During the entire curriculum period the graduate students also took also an active role in theoretical teaching , planning sessions and clinical training of the undergraduate students in Prosthodontics , which comprised straightforward implant reconstructions such as mandibular overdentures , single crowns and short span fixed dental prosthesis . Such teaching assignment broadened their experience and helped to develop skills in social behavior and attitudes toward students , patients and teachers . 2.2 . Study material Prosthetic patients were consecutively admitted for treatment in the course of this postgraduate curriculum . They signed an informed consent willing to be treated by graduate students . This
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