Recognising skills. Rewarding progression. Supporting safe implant dentistry.
The ADI’s mission is to advance education in the field of dental implantology for the benefit of the public. Consequently, we are constantly striving to update and improve how we help dental teams deliver high-quality dental implant treatment.
In order to better assist professionals at different stages of their implant journey, while continuing to promote patient safety and professional accountability, we are introducing a new Fellowship Pathway.
Protecting patient safety
Dental professionals in the UK must meet specific regulatory and clinical standards in order to safely and effectively provide dental implant treatment to their patients. As a minimum, the General Dental Council (GDC) expects dentists to have undergone postgraduate training in dental implantology, urging individuals to align themselves with the Training Standards in Implant Dentistry, [i] as published by the College of General Dentistry (formerly the Faculty of General Dental Practice).[ii]
The guidance highlights the importance of completing adequate training and gaining necessary practical experience in dental implantology before offering the treatment modality to patients. Such an undertaking provides evidence of the appropriate skill development and ensures that clinicians are competent and confident in the provision of treatment.
Each step is designed to protect patient safety and ensure that they receive high-quality, evidence-based, and predictable care. But it also protects the practitioner, encouraging individuals to build a solid foundation of knowledge and skill that facilitates proper indemnity or insurance in the case of genuine mistakes or unforeseen complications.
Realignment for more defined support
The new 4-tier ADI Fellowship Pathway will be objectively defined by members’ experience and training in the field, with appropriate benefits available to support each group. Represented as Associate Member, Full Member, Associate Fellow, and Fellow, the new pathway has been developed in direct response to member feedback. It carries a clear mandate from our community: in a recent consultation of 130 ADI implant dentists, 89% (116 members) supported the development of a Fellowship designation, with none voting against. Guided by this strong endorsement, we are advancing the framework for this prestigious award and the structured pathway that supports it.
Not only does this more clearly define career progression for individuals, but it also recognises professionals’ dedication to development in the field throughout their career and celebrates those at the very top of their game. The ADI membership benefits available will vary slightly for each tier, reflecting the different needs of professionals at each professional milestone. However, all will retain access to discounted membership rates for coveted ADI educational events like the Team Congress, Masterclasses and Members’ National Forum, with many further opportunities for networking, development, and connection with the broader community.
ADI President, Pynadath George, commented:
“This new membership structure will demonstrate the skill, competence, and passion for advancement of dental implantology across the association. It will allow us to more closely align with the GDC and other industry standards, giving members an opportunity to clearly demonstrate their progression in the field at each stage of their career. Criteria for each step in the pathway are clear and concise for simple enrolment, with benefits tailored to individuals with different experiences and ambitions within the sector. I’m thrilled that we have updated our membership system in this way as we continue to develop with our members and the general public in mind.”
A smooth transition
Current ADI members will be automatically enrolled in the new system, so you don’t need to do anything. For those not yet part of the association, the new structure will make it even easier to understand your current standing in dental implantology, with distinct support available to help you drive your career forward in a safe and effective way.
Either way, find out more about the new and improved ADI membership structure and accelerate your implant career today!
For more information, please visit www.adi.org.uk
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[i] GDC issues warning over implant dentistry procedures. Br Dent J 205, 587 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.1053
[ii] Standards & Guidance: Training Standards in Implant Dentistry. Primary Dental Journal. 2024;13(3):32-35. doi:10.1177/20501684241284343b
