A survey of oral implantology teaching in the university dental hospitals and schools of the United Kingdom and Eire.

Aim to provide an overview of the currently available academic teaching and clinical training in oral implantology at the university dental schools an d hospitals of the United Kingdom and fire. Method A questionnaire was sent to the dean or director of dental studies a nd forwarded to the respective units involved in the academic teaching and clinical training of oral implantology. The setting was the university dent al hospitals, and dental schools of the UK and fire. Information was collec ted between July 1997 and March 1999. The main outcome measures were course availability, duration and emphasis for undergraduate and postgraduate stu dy in the clinical discipline of oral implantology. The units or department s responsible for training and teaching were identified and formal degree c ourses were distinguished from non-degree courses. Results All institutions replied to the survey. All university dental schoo ls provide undergraduate training in oral implantology in accordance with t he guidelines provided by the General Dental Council. However, the courses vary with regard to the departments involved and the level of student parti cipation. Thirteen centres provide informal postgraduate training with the duration ranging from one to eighteen days. Just eight centres provide form al academic graduate training based on oral implantology leading to recogni sed degrees. Conclusion All university dental schools provide undergraduate teaching in oral implantology. Most centres also provide informal postgraduate training based on oral implantology. However, opportunities for academic graduate t raining, leading to recognised qualifications in this subject, appear limit ed at present.