There is no specialist list for implant dentistry in the UK, so most general dentists learn to place and restore implants through a postgraduate course followed by mentored clinical work. The choice of courses is wide – from weekend introductions to three-year MSc programmes – and the differences between them are not always obvious from a brochure. This guide sets out the questions we suggest any dentist asks before committing to an implant course, wherever they decide to train.
1. Does the course meet the UK training standards?
Training Standards in Implant Dentistry, first published by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) in 2005 and now maintained by the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), describes the training a dentist should complete before providing implant treatment. It has been accepted by the General Dental Council as the reference for implant training, so it is the benchmark that would be applied if your competence were ever questioned. The College has also published Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines (2022) with the Association of Dental Implantology, and an updated, combined training and mentoring standard is in development.
Ask any provider how their course maps to these documents, in particular how theory, hands-on practice and supervised clinical treatment fit together.
2. Will you treat real patients – and whose?
Lectures and models are essential, but competence comes from planning, placing and restoring implants in patients under supervision. Find out:
- whether you will operate yourself, assist, or only watch live surgery;
- whether you bring your own patients or the course provides them;
- where the treatment takes place, and who is supervising chairside;
- who is responsible for the patient’s follow-up and restoration.
Treating your own patients has a real advantage: you see the whole journey from assessment and consent through to the final restoration and review, which is exactly what you will be doing in practice afterwards.
3. Who actually teaches – and how many delegates are there?
Many courses advertise a large faculty. That can be valuable, but it can also mean you rarely see the same clinician twice. Ask who will be teaching on each day, who will supervise your clinical work, and how many delegates there are per tutor. In surgical training, a small group usually means more time at the chair and more feedback on your own cases.
4. What happens after the course ends?
The training standards expect newly trained implant dentists to work with a mentor while they build experience. Before you enrol, ask whether the course offers continuing support with your cases, whether that is included in the fee, and how you would arrange mentoring otherwise. The College of General Dentistry also hosts a public Register of Mentors in Implant Dentistry, which you can use to find a suitably qualified mentor.
5. Is there a clear next step?
Most dentists start with straightforward single-tooth cases, then want to move on to bone grafting, sinus augmentation, guided surgery and full-arch treatment. A course that sits within a structured pathway – a foundation year followed by an advanced year, for example – lets you progress with tutors who already know your work, rather than starting again with a new provider.
6. What is the total cost?
Headline fees are hard to compare. Check whether VAT is added, whether implant components and materials for your patients are included, whether there are extra charges for mentoring, assessment or software, and whether the fee can be spread over the year. Remember to factor in travel and time away from your practice: a course that runs one day a month, close to where you work, is usually easier to fit around a list than one that needs blocks of a week at a time.
7. Which implant system will you learn?
Most courses teach with one system. The principles transfer, but it is easier to start placing implants in your own practice if you have trained on a system with good component availability and support in the UK. Ask which system is used and whether you are free to choose a different one afterwards.
8. Don’t forget indemnity and your CPD record
Talk to your indemnity provider before you start treating implant patients – they will want to know about your training and supervision. Keep a full record of your course hours, the cases you have treated and your mentoring, as this forms part of your evidence of competence.
How our courses answer these questions
At Guy’s College every course is taught personally by Dr David Guy, in small groups, at 18 Wimpole Street in London. The Certificate in Implant Dentistry (Year 1) is for dentists with little or no implant experience: ten Saturdays over a year combining lectures, hands-on practicals and live patient experience, and UK-based dentists registered with the GDC can treat their own patients under supervision at our Wimpole Street clinic. The Certificate in Advanced Implant Dentistry (Year 2) is limited to eight participants and covers guided surgery, advanced bone grafting, full-arch restoration, sinus grafting and X-Guide dynamic navigation. Together with a clinical case submission they form the two-year Diploma in Implant Dentistry.
You can see full fees on our Fees & How to Apply page, read what past delegates say on our Testimonials page, or call us on 020 7323 1960 to talk through whether a course is right for you.