The RCSEd Membership in Implant Dentistry – The Road to Success
RCSEd Communications Team
The RCSEd Membership in Implant Dentistry is an independent examination that aims to provide external validation of your implant training against standards set by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). The exam is aimed at the level of a minimally competent General Dental Practitioner undertaking Implant Dentistry and therefore it is applicable to all dentists involved in placing and/or restoring implants. The exam is pitched at a straight forward entry level of Implant Dentistry.
The learning outcomes and the scope of the exam is aligned to the College of General Dentistry (CG Dent) UK’s Training Standards in Implant Dentistry (TSID). These standards were developed in 2005 and have been revised periodically to ensure patient safety and protection. These training standards outline the training that should be undertaken to carry out implant dentistry safely but also the standards which should be met by training courses. In the UK they serve as a reference point for the General Dental Council in the consideration of patient complaints against dentists who have allegedly practised implant dentistry in the United Kingdom without the necessary competence.
In the last 10 years there have been many implant training programmes, ranging from short courses through Diplomas to MSc programmes that have become available for General Dentists to develop their knowledge and skills in Implant Dentistry. Unfortunately, they do vary in their quality with some being face to face, others online, and some taking a hybrid approach. On completion of these programmes and taking an internal assessment, the dentist is awarded the qualification, but often without any formal external validation. Kim and Stagnell (2018) showed that whilst development of TSID guidelines has led to a significant improvement in the quality of postgraduate education in Dental Implantology in the UK, not all courses are fully compliant with these guidelines and this is something dentists undertaking training programmes may not be aware. The RCSEd
Membership in Implant Dentistry allows dentists to demonstrate autonomously to a group of peer experts that they have met the minimum required standard for patient safety and good clinical practice set out by TSID, and in turn provides reassurance to dentists and any other interested parties that their training has met a minimum standard deemed necessary for the safe practice of implant dentistry in the UK and internationally. It also offers affiliation with the world recognised and prestigious RCSEd at a Membership level, and you will be entitled to use the post-nominals M Imp Dent RCSEd.
What is the exam format?
The exam is a summative assessment of the knowledge base, planning, clinical judgement, communication and practical skills that underpin independent dental implant practice. It tests the candidate’s ability to apply the above skills at a level expected of a safe, well informed general dental practitioner with a particular interest in implant dentistry. It is set at a basic level including aspects of minor augmentation but does not intend to assess competency or the detailed knowledge of the more advanced procedures e.g. major bone grafting and external sinus lift surgery, full arch reconstructions and treatment planning with computerised software.
The exam comprises two written papers with single best answer questions, usually taking place on day one and followed by two ten-station OSCE circuits. Ten stations focus on practical skills related to implant dentistry and the other ten stations are on communication skills. Finally, there is a structured oral examination based on 8 unseen cases for which the candidate will have some time to read over the material and gather their thoughts before being examined.
How can candidates best prepare for the examination?
It is important to emphasise that the exam is not the endpoint of any particular training programme. There are also no courses that are formally affiliated to this exam. It is not essential to have done any particular course and candidates may have acquired the training through multiple CPD courses, self-directed learning and the use of a mentor. If the candidate has completed a modular course and obtained a diploma or an MSc, then they should be well prepared for the exam.
The RCSEd has an accreditation programme for courses where the advisory board in implant dentistry for RCSEd will look at the curriculum of the course and verify if it meets the learning outcomes for the Membership in Implant Dentistry examination. Undertaking any such accredited courses does not guarantee the candidate will be successful in the exam but should reassure the dentist that the course will cover material that will help prepare them for the exam.
The candidate should start by reading the self-declaration form. On this form there is an outline of what the advisory board feel is important for the candidate to have completed prior to sitting this exam. They should then download the learning outcomes document and work through each component to ensure they are comfortable with each of the descriptors. Both of these documents are available to download from the RCSEd website. Once both of these elements have been fulfilled the candidate should be in a good position to consider applying for the examination.
Further details regarding the exam are on the RCSEd website or the candidate can join one of the upcoming Exam Information Sessions on Zoom. Details of these sessions are also available on the College website. If the candidate still has any further questions, they can email dental.exams@rcsed.ac.uk.
Written by Dr Mital Patel, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer and Chairman of the RCSEd Advisory Board for Implant Dentistry
References:
- Kim and Stagnell (2018) Postgraduate Education in Dental Implantology in the United Kingdom: a review. International Journal of Implant Dentistry 4:8 2-6
- CG Dent Training Standards in Implant Dentistry
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