Advancing Your Career in Implant Dentistry

Implant Dentistry deals with placement and restoration of titanium implants to replace missing teeth. Hence, it’s important for every general dental practitioner to acquire basic knowledge and develop skills to deliver implant treatment as the best fixed treatment option to the patients. Gaining exposure in Implant Dentistry provides practitioners not only knowledge, skills and self-confidence but will ensure safe and predictable outcome for their patients.

With this in mind, IMU School of Dentistry started to offer Postgraduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry since 2016 to train general dental practitioners to expand the scope of their practice to include Implant Dentistry. The Postgraduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry (PGDID) programme delivered at IMU is Malaysia’s first and only MQA accredited postgraduate programme for implant dentistry.

Since its inception in 2016, it has successfully trained five cohorts to be able to carry out safe, effective, and independent implant practice. The highlight of this programme is that the dentists registered under the programme can place implants on the patients under close one-to-one supervision in IMU clinics, they have access to IMU’s library and online resources, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), Software planning for Computer Guided Implant Surgery, Densah burs for Osseodensification. The Programme also has developed a special Implant clinic for implant referrals and clinical supervision.

This programme is specially tailored to suit practitioners with minimal or no implant dentistry experience. An evidence-based patient-centered approach is used in advising patients concerning the choice of prostheses, techniques, and materials available. The programme has a unique learning model which offers flexibility through its outcome-based modular structure delivered through blended learning.

Coming to IMU for face-to-face teaching/learning sessions once every two months is something all the students look forward as they meet the teaching faculty for direct teaching and practical sessions. The new PGDID 2021 Curriculum was launched in 2021 where special learning outcomes have been planned to be delivered on developing Communication skills, Entrepreneurial skills, Professionalism and Ethics to provide holistic approach in developing implant practice.

What Our Graduates Say
Dr Karpaham Balasubramaniam from PGDID 118 cohort, who is a private practitioner and has graduated a year back adds that “The PGDip course is a well-structured and detailed course; the mentors are very experienced and the state-of-the-art equipments at IMU help in making the learning experience excellent for those seeking to advance their skills. The course is perfect for those looking to further your pathway in implant learning”
Dr Kentrick Ang Roymond from PGDID 119 cohort, another PGDID graduate adds that “In spite of Covid and lock down, the course coordinator has gone all out to make arrangements to ensure that the students and the course can be conducted as best as it could, so as to not affect the quality of the programme, including planning to adjust to our timing and schedule as a practitioner which involves them conducting sessions at night and over the weekends. This course definitely gave me the confidence to manage basic to intermediate level of implant cases on a clinical level. I have learnt a lot about implant dentistry throughout the whole journey and gained confidence in management of implants and to provide care in regards to implant treatment for my patients. I would like to thank the lecturers again for their sincerity in education and guiding me as a student and friend, throughout the whole journey”

What Our Graduates Say

Dr Karpaham Balasubramaniam from PGDID 118 cohort, who is a private practitioner and has graduated a year back adds that “The PGDip course is a well-structured and detailed course; the mentors are very experienced and the state-of-the-art equipments at IMU help in making the learning experience excellent for those seeking to advance their skills. The course is perfect for those looking to further your pathway in implant learning”

Dr Kentrick Ang Roymond from PGDID 119 cohort, another PGDID graduate adds that “In spite of Covid and lock down, the course coordinator has gone all out to make arrangements to ensure that the students and the course can be conducted as best as it could, so as to not affect the quality of the programme, including planning to adjust to our timing and schedule as a practitioner which involves them conducting sessions at night and over the weekends. This course definitely gave me the confidence to manage basic to intermediate level of implant cases on a clinical level. I have learnt a lot about implant dentistry throughout the whole journey and gained confidence in management of implants and to provide care in regards to implant treatment for my patients. I would like to thank the lecturers again for their sincerity in education and guiding me as a student and friend, throughout the whole journey”

IMU has ensured that the programme is delivered by highly qualified and experienced full-time and adjunct teaching faculties. Internationally acclaimed PGDID faculty Prof Toh Chooi Gait, Prof Seow Liang Lin, Dr Elvin Leong, Dr Daylene Leong, Dr Ranjeet Bapat, Dr Pravinkumar Patil, Dr Tanay Chaubal, Dr Rohit Menon, Dr Sureinthiren A/L Jeya Raman, Dr Shivani Kohli and Dr Muneer Babar impart the PGDID students with an evidence-based technique in advising patients concerning the choice of prostheses, and materials to be used and developing soft skills in implant dentistry.