Implant Community Support and Update for the Jacksonville University Comprehensive Oral Implantology Program

Drs Hilt Tatum, Duke Heller, and Andy McConnell had the vision and dedication to our profession to be the founders and creators of the Jacksonville University Comprehensive Oral Implantology Program (JU COIP). Due to their tireless efforts, this unique education program came to fruition. These individuals and the Comprehensive Oral Implantology Residency Foundation (CORIF) provided initial financial support. CORIF contributed $1.1 million to get the program up and running. The program is in its third year and found a funding shortfall for fiscal year 2025. However, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Board of Trustees (AAID BOT), several AAID Board Members, the AAID Central District, and Friends of the Midwest Implant Institute (MII) have pledged to cover the financial shortfall of $87,500 to ensure the continual existence of this vital education program. Projections show that the program should reach financial solvency for fiscal year 2026.

This is the only Implant Residency Program allowing dentists to acquire an MS in Dentistry with a clinical and didactic focus on comprehensive oral implantology. The JU COIP training exceeds the clinical and didactic evidence-based education in Implant Dentistry compared with existing specialty training programs. Existing specialty programs limit their implant education to individuals seeking Maxillofacial Surgery, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics specialty training. These programs provide implant education from the perspective of that specialty program with limited clinical and didactic experience in other aspects of implant dentistry. Implant Dentistry involves complex diagnostic interpretation, treatment planning, surgical techniques, prosthetic options, lifetime maintenance, and complication management. Existing specialty programs only go in-depth on topics relevant to the specialty. The JU COIP puts the focus of the residency on all aspects of implant dentistry in its clinical and didactic education. This program focuses on implant dentistry, with exposure to topics tangential to the clinical practice of implant dentistry.

The JU COIP has 27 full-time residents and 20 clinical resident sites throughout the United States. Clinical sites include implant-focused private practices and not-for-profit clinics that provide extensive implant therapies to the underserved population.

More implants are placed in private practice settings than in hospitals or universities. In many ways, it is rational for residents to acquire advanced, real-world implant-focused education in private practice clinical settings rather than hospitals or universities. The key is that education must be (and is) standardized in each clinical setting. The JU COIP provides standardized clinical training based on Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). Each EPA has multiple competencies that must be completed before a Resident can be signed off on a particular EPA. Clinical sites are monitored to ensure that residents have similar clinical experiences. Clinical experiences include all aspects of implant dentistry. Clinical cases and EPAs range from single implant cases to multiple implants, all-on-x, zygomatic implants, pterygoid implants, bone grafting procedures (socket grafting, sinus augmentations, vertical and horizontal onlay grafting), prosthetic procedures, maintenance, and complication management. Residents receive comprehensive moderate sedation training in both oral and intravenous techniques. Unlike traditional university-based specialty training programs, this residency program is not exclusive to just one specialty training perspective.

This year’s class has 16 residents, including 1 American Board of Oral Implantology (ABOI)/Implant Dentistry (ID) Diplomate and a Maxillofacial Oral Surgeon. These 2 individuals (ABOI Diplomate and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) already had extensive implant experience but desired to expand their evidence-based knowledge of the discipline to elevate their clinical expertise. During the 3-year program, residents are required to diagnose and plan treatment, present cases for patient acceptance, surgically place and restore implants, monitor implant success, and master the management of complications. However, work is underway to change this to a 2-year program.

The attached photograph shows a second-year Resident and staff preparing to treat a terminal maxillary terminal dentition with the extraction of multiple teeth and placement of 4 traditional and 2 pterygoid endosseous implants for a patient under deep sedation, supervised by an anesthesiologist and assisted by a third-year resident. The radiograph shows the previously treated mandibular arch and the same-day maxillary arch treatments. The same resident will provide fixed hybrid restorations. Residents are required to follow cases until they have completed the program.

This comprehensive implant program is designed for clinicians who desire to enhance their evidenced-based implant education. It is suitable for those completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency, General Practice Residency program, or any of the Commission on Dental Accreditation-recognized programs, as they will get a more excellent, in-depth implant didactic and clinical experience in this program than other residency programs. Residents are matched with clinical resident sites for their daily clinical experience.

Clinicians with extensive training and clinical experience in an established practice focusing on dental implant treatments can stay in their practice and become residents. Mechanisms are in place to accommodate these individuals.

There are currently Residents with multiple experience tracts at various points in their dental careers. Most residents are under 35 and early on in their implant careers. Still, others are older, have extensive implant clinical experience, and desire to increase their understanding and knowledge in all aspects of implant dentistry. Two more experienced individuals already have achieved Diplomate status with the ABOI/ID. As mentioned previously, one new resident is a maxillofacial surgeon with years of experience in the placement of implants. This all-inclusive Implant Program is necessary due to the rate of change within the profession. Residents receive extensive training and experience in all aspects of digital dentistry, although they are also exposed to more traditional analog techniques.

Due to its complexity and the technological explosion, implant dentistry should be a specialty or subspecialty under all existing specialties and general dentistry. However, the fact that it is not a recognized specialty does not negate the need for standardized university-based degree implant residency programs that are not exclusive but inclusive for all dentists (Maxillofacial Surgeons, Periodontists, Prosthodontists, and General Practitioners). All disciplines of dentistry bring value to the practice of implant dentistry. This includes the expertise of Maxillofacial Surgeons, Periodontists, Prosthodontists, and General Dentists. No one group should have a monopoly, and no group should be excluded.

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This program provides all interested dental clinicians who want to expand their critical thinking skills in implant dentistry with the opportunity to become highly skilled and knowledgeable implant providers. Regardless of specialty status, every dedicated, skilled clinician should have the chance to pursue university-based, advanced dental implant education. This program also provides patients with evidence-based clinicians who have developed a complete understanding of all aspects of implant dentistry and are dedicated to this complex and rapidly changing discipline.

Individuals with a US state-issued dental license who desire to learn more about this program can visit https://www.ju.edu/oral-implantology/.

The AAID and its members have stepped up and assured the profession that this program will survive. As Program Director for the JU COIP, I sincerely thank the AAID BOT, BOT members, the Central District, and Friends of MII for this necessary program’s generous grant and support.

Individuals who wish to contribute to the AAID Buhite Scholarship Fund may visit https://www.aaid.com/products/buhite-scholarship-fund. If your preference is to give directly to Jacksonville University Comprehensive Oral Implantology Program, please visit https://www.ju.edu/supportju/ways-to-give/index.php and specify that the donation is to be used by the Oral Implantology Program. Thank you in advance for your consideration.