We all want our dental implants to stand the test of time, ensuring patient satisfaction. But poor maintenance and/or dental changes can impact the success of treatment.
At the ADI Team Congress 2025, dental professionals with an interest in implants can expand their knowledge on how best to optimise the long-term success. From his base of operations at the Clear Dentistry practice in Hampshire, Dr Christopher Leech has positioned himself at the forefront of dental implantology, with his upcoming talk at the ADI Team Congress designed to illuminate some of the problems facing dental hygienists and therapists. Chris explains an area of concern:
“I recently had a conversation with a dental therapist who explained that, at university, they were given little exposure to the specific handlings of implants and the necessary maintenance. Whilst there is familiarity with bacterial infections there is an educational gap that must be addressed, as implant complications aren’t just related to bacterial challenges – a lot of the complications are coming more from dental changes and prosthetic design. The basic undergraduate framework is not sufficient for dentists, or dental hygienists and therapists when it comes to functional issues and implants. Change is needed so that the entire team can identify and manage problems as quickly as possible for optimal patient care.”
Bruxism is of particular interest to Chris because of its damaging impact on implants:
“The forces we generate in our mouth are substantial – just look at the images of bullets that have been bitten into by soldiers. For many bruxers, these powerful forces act at night and are uncontrollable via dental means, but there are also many patients who are aware they do it in the day, whether that be mowing the lawn or concentrating at work. Bruxism has the force to go through an implant, with the internal screws and rock-solid titanium material often being less resilient compared to the natural dentition.
“This concerning relationship is the foundation of my upcoming talk, ‘Implants and Bruxism – Not the Perfect Pairing,’ at the ADI Team Congress 2025. I hope to enlighten attendees on the prevalence of bruxism, how damaging it can be if left unmanaged, and how to broach the conversation with patients. I will also emphasise the importance of managing and monitoring the occlusion, as this changes with time, and how to implement other preventative strategies for our patients. I hope the audience will broaden their knowledge that there is more to implant maintenance than scaling and that any gaps from the undergraduate course are filled in.”
A prevalent member of the dental community, 2025 will mark Chris’ first foray into the ADI, something he is excited for:
“It will be my first attendance to an ADI conference and I am looking forward to it. Dental professionals should attend as many educational opportunities as they possibly can. The goalposts are always changing and we must learn more to better help our patients. The day we stand still and lose that drive is probably the day we accept it is time to retire. To be at the top of the field demands ongoing education – I don’t do anything today that I did 10 years ago, and I’m sure that will be the case in another 10 years.”
Events like the ADI Team Congress are also invaluable networking opportunities, and Chris feels strongly about the social advantages of attending:
“Large conferences give enormous value for surrounding yourself with likeminded individuals. Dentistry is a small world but being around hundreds of other dental professionals will reinforce your passion and motivate you. There is also so much career potential with big events – at a recent conference an associate approached me and asked, as they worked nearby, if they could shadow me at the practice. I accepted and they ended up getting a permanent position. It wouldn’t have happened without that first introduction at an event. These are the moments you cannot afford to miss out on.”
For dental professionals looking to enhance their understanding of implant maintenance, Chris’ talk is essential viewing, and is one of many fascinating sessions that will form the rich educational tapestry at the ADI Team Congress 2025.
ADI Team Congress 2025
1-3 May
The Brighton Centre
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https://www.adi.org.uk/association_dental_implantology_congress/delegates_prices
For more information about the ADI, visit www.adi.org.uk
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