Often, knowledge gaps and confidence issues keep us from feeling comfortable enough to add new procedures to our list of services. As a dental implant educator, I have found my realm is a scary place for dentists who want to transition from knowing how to place an implant to actually turning an edentulous space into a highly functioning tooth for a patient.

In my observation, this is primarily because dentists don’t have the confidence they need to perform certain surgical procedures, lack experience in performing those procedures, and have a fear of the unknown. The most fear-provoking surgical procedures tend to be suturing, making incisions, drilling osteotomy sites and managing post-op healing.

How can we address these fears? It lies in getting more hands-on training, preferably alongside our dental assistants and patient care teams, without having to use real patients.

Unfortunately, short of performing every first-time surgery on living humans, there aren’t a lot of good training options for dentists who need to gain experience and confidence. True-to-life models that actually feel like bone and soft tissue just don’t seem to exist. Drilling on plastic doesn’t feel like bone, and making incisions and suturing on rubber doesn’t feel like soft tissue.

That’s why I created the SurgeReal 3D Hands-on Training Models. I saw the need for a better model and, after a few years of trial and error, these models were born to fill that need. The first models feature actual cortical and cancellous bone that feel natural, as well as varying densities based on location in the mouth and soft tissue that allows dentists to learn all of the scary procedures without having to practice on live patients. I am pretty pumped about these models and have now trained quite a few doctors on them. It is changing their game!

And it gets better. This hands-on dental implant education can be completed online, from the comfort of your own office with your assistant by your side. With this training, your team members also develop the confidence they need because they too gain 32 implants worth of experience. There’s no fumbling around or being embarrassed in front of a patient. You will have it down. We can eliminate the cost of travel, reduce the cost of the course, and give you hands-on experience in a fraction of the time—and it’s all thanks to these models.

What are the two biggest roadblocks to implementing the knowledge we gain from continuing education courses? One is quite certainly training team members. To overcome that challenge, these training models are made to complete alongside your dental assistant. The video-based education is structured so assistants can see how the chairside work is done, while clinicians see the precise surgical skills necessary for implant placement.

The second challenge to implementation is the lack of real experience. When we haven’t done much, if any, hands-on work, we lack the perspective needed to anticipate challenges—and the fear of the unknown adds stress to the situation. When both the doctor and team members have experience before they enter an operatory with a live patient, the procedure is seamless, and no one has to know it’s a new experience. Technically, it isn't!

You can take your practice to a whole new level with dental implants. Implants are likely the biggest future trend in all of dentistry. Make your education count by gaining actual experience and skills rather than just absorbing information that doesn't grow your bottom line. It takes confidence! It is easy to make it happen with these models. Start the journey toward closing your knowledge gaps, gain experience, and most importantly, gain confidence in your skills. You got this!

I’m officially rolling out the course and these models after the first of the year. Interested in taking the course? Email me at GuyGrossDDS@nhdpm.com and I’ll put you on the list.