As a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, I have received extensive experience in implant dentistry as well as oral reconstruction, not to mention countless hours of continuing education. For me becoming an American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID) diplomate was initially about assessing my current practice and confirming my credentials. I never expected how great of a reward I would get for my practice, as well as the personal satisfaction I would receive from completing the examination process.
Currently, any dentist or surgeon with a license to practice dentistry can place dental implants without advanced education, or even experience with implant placement. As dental implants replace many traditional dental procedures, dentists are now feeling the pressure to place implants despite having minimal surgical experience. Furthermore, there are now several weekend courses that “certify” dentists as having advanced education in implantology, when they have only completed the surgery on a mannequin or a single patient. In our current time of social media and online marketing this leads to overstated claims to the general public of “expertise” or “advanced knowledge” in the discipline without confirmation by their peers.
The American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry is an organization that was established in 1969 in order to recognize advanced education in the discipline of dental implants. Practitioners must first qualify through an initial written examination, or by being a board certified periodontist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon. After the initial qualifying stage, the applicant must next submit a detailed portfolio of their cases complete with images, radiographs, and follow-up. The final step of the certification process consists of a rigorous oral examination in which the applicant must defend their own cases as well as treatment plan and manage cases provided by the board.
After becoming a certified ABOI/ID diplomate, I have become a much more effective communicator within the implant team at Hill Country Oral Surgery, and I can now lead the team much more effectively, in all phases of the implant treatment – from diagnosis to final restoration. I look forward to practicing at the level of excellence certified by my ABOI/ID diplomate status.
