A passion for excellent implant dentistry – Dr Karl Walker-Finch
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 6th July 2019
Dr Karl Walker-Finch from Lindley Dental Centre in Huddersfield discusses his journey into dental implantology…
The first practice that I joined upon qualifying offered dental implants and this is what initially piqued my interest in the field. Upon deciding to pursue it further I was keen to research the different training opportunities on the market at the time. Cost was a factor, of course, but I was more interested in the quality of the training and the support. Recommendations from several of my colleagues and mentors were a major influence over my final choice – I didn’t speak to one person who had attended a course from Ucer Education and not taken a lot away from it. The PG Cert in Implant Dentistry is not just training from a manufacturer on a specific system; it offers a practical foundation of knowledge and skills and inspires delegates to deliver excellent treatment for their patients.
Brilliant training and mentorship
The course itself was brilliant. The format worked very well as it was spread out with days held once a month over the year. Content covered all the basic principles and then explored more complex areas, ensuring delegates had mastered the simple skills before progressing. The speakers, especially Professor Ucer and Professor Shakeel Shahdad, explained everything step-by-step and offered exemplary guidance and support. I firmly believe that mentoring is critical for dentists learning new skills in any field of modern dentistry. With the advice and supervision of a mentor, you can benefit from expertise beyond your own and develop your skills in a safe way. There is no doubt in my mind that the mentorship Professor Ucer and the team offer is of the very highest standard.
An ideal first step
I completed the PG Cert in Implant Dentistry in 2012. This programme is now accredited as a Level 7 qualification by Eduqual. In this day and age, the formal certificate gives you confidence in the quality of training you’ve received and allows you to demonstrate that you’ve taken adequate steps to develop your skills. This course really laid the foundations I needed with a strong evidence-based and ethical grounding to my implant dentistry. Since then, I have completed an MSc in Dental Implantology at Salford University – also under the leadership of Professor Ucer – as well as advanced bone grafting and sinus augmentation courses.
Igniting the passion
I think it’s important to be passionate about dental implants before you get started – not everyone can or wants to do it. You need a good support network around you, especially when you’re starting out. It’s also crucial to find a course that’s right for you – one that’s been shown to be worthwhile and offers a formal qualification, and one that you believe will give you a good grounding in implants with on-going support. It’s not easy to find a course that you are confident can provide all of those things, but I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the PG Cert in Implant Dentistry from Ucer Education.
For more information on the PG Cert in Implant Dentistry from Ucer Education – supported by Geistlich, Megagen, Neoss, TRI Implants and General Medical – please visit www.ucer.education or call 0161 237 1842
