The dental nurse is the lynchpin of the implant team, and their education can be key to your success

  Posted by: Dental Design      3rd January 2023

Dental implants are now offered by more practices to meet demand. But despite these treatments’ growing popularity, they are still complex, requiring meticulous planning at every stage. For the clinical journey to be a success for everyone involved, teamwork is crucial.

Although there are many reasons why modern patients would prefer to replace a tooth with a dental implant rather than a removable prosthesis, they will still have concerns. The internet gives access to information that may not be scientific or evidence-based, and could even be inaccurate or misleading, but people will read, and be influenced by what they read, nonetheless. Implant teams are seeing people who are experiencing a range of emotions. In many cases, individuals are feeling somewhere between sure they’re making the right decision and apprehensive and intimidated about the long-term commitment, expense, risk of failure.

To get that person from A to B, by delivering a treatment that restores health, function and looks beautiful, the implant team will need to work as one. They will have to seamlessly integrate all their different skills and knowledge, so that every patient feels well looked after, comfortable and informed from the start.

In every dental team, the lynchpin is often the dental nurse. A great dental nurse is organised and an excellent communicator, with the ability to stay calm under pressure. They are informative and compassionate, so if a patient is suddenly nervous, or has extra questions before treatment begins, they know they can talk to the dental nurse, who will give honest answers and support without judgement.  

On the implant team, the dental nurse is part of the process whereby the patient fully understands the procedure they’re having, all the risks for failure, and what they can do to reduce them. Having been present since the start of the treatment journey, the dental nurse will be familiar with their unique dental, medical and social history and have the ‘full picture’ necessary for the delivery of tailored, individualised care. They are crucial during the planning and treatment delivery stage, also post-operatively. When the patient is in the recovery and maintenance phase, the dental nurse will have been fully briefed on the care plan. If an individual is experiencing an unexpected level of pain or swelling, for example, they may feel more comfortable with contacting the nurse first, who will be able to reassure or recommend they return to the practice. Going forward, although the dental hygienist or dental therapist will often be the one who performs the professional cleaning of the implant, the dental nurse will be able to demonstrate how to do this too, and offer advice on areas like diet and other behaviours that can keep the smile looking and feeling good.

The dental nurse is crucial to the ‘human’ side of dentistry, whatever the application, but every dentist knows they are utterly fundamental in a practical sense, for enabling smooth and efficient workflows. In the implant team, they assist with surgical asepsis by maintaining strict protocols when preparing the surgery, including all instruments, equipment and materials, also when checking products sent in from the lab. They will be familiar with the various products that the implant dentist may use, depending on the case. During surgery, they help maintain the safe and sterile environment, as well as being a calming presence, who can anticipate what the clinician needs. Post-operatively, there will be more practical tasks, like ensuring there is a full case report and logging batch numbers of kits used.

In all areas of dentistry, education is the key to professional growth, also for developing the confidence to help more patients comprehensively. Although they already have a wide range of skills, when dental nurses assess quality implant training, they can take their careers to the next level. The One to One Implant Education is launching a new diploma for dental nurses in 2023, developed by the same Harley Street team that has helped thousands of dentists start their implant journey. Being taught by professionals and educators at the top of their game will inspire a passion for lifelong learning, as well as enable dental nurses to do more than simply ‘assist’ the implant process. With a combination of hands-on and theoretical learning, the programme will also help them expand their network, as well as boost their prospects in an increasingly competitive industry, so there will be personal rewards too!

Great implant dentistry is all about teamwork and, to my mind, working as part of an implant team is the opportunity of a lifetime for dental nurses. When they access quality training, they will be part of every successful patient journey, one that restores smiles as well as quality of life, and returns people to health and wellbeing, for many years to come.

To reserve your place or to find out more, please visit
https://121implanteducation.co.uk or call 020 7486 0000.

Dr Fazeela Khan-Osborne
Principal Implant and Restorative Surgeon
MSc.BDS (Lon) BSc(Hons) LDS.RCS (Eng) DRDP Dip. Imp. Dent.(RCS.Eng)Advanced Certificate, FCOI