Educational perspectives in implant prosthodontics.

Osseointegration as a clinical reality arrived in Australia 10 years ago. Since that time, training courses and research programs have been conducted at the universities in Perth and Sydney. As a result of these developments, osseointegrated implant prosthodontics is now common practice, and continues to grow at an accelerated rate. General dentists have become increasingly interested as the scope of treatment expanded into the partially edentulous mouth and the missing single tooth situation. As the necessity arises to provide treatment for more patients because of increased patient demand, the future of simple implant placement for selected cases will have to be reassessed. It is inevitable that eventually, capable, highly motivated dentists will place their own implants in an effort to achieve more affordable treatment in a simplified but carefully organised environment, with all variables under the control of the single operator.