Digital education curriculum contributes to popularisation of implant surgery in Mexico

Osstem invited Dr Park Ji-Man of Seoul National University School of Dentistry to enhance the participants’ basic understanding of digital dentistry and provide education on the digital planning process. As part of the digital dentistry education, Dr. Kim Kyoung-won, the head of Osstem Implant Education and Research Institute (OIC) lectured on the basic concept and use of OneGuide, as well as application techniques in various implant environments using the OneCAS and OneMS kits and templates. Furthermore, the Korean authority on dental clinical education, Dr Soo-Young Lee,  who also serves as a lecturer for Osstem gave a lecture outlining implant overdentures and carried out hands-on practice using port attachments and dentures.

According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, FDI World Dental Federation, and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in South Korea, Mexico has 132,000 dentists—four times as many as South Korea has—and 24,000 dental clinics. However, the number of Mexican dental clinics which can perform implant surgery is as small as 6,200, just 25.8% of the dental clinics, indicating the high need for dental implant clinical education. OneGuide, which can make up for the insufficient skill or experience of dental professionals and guarantee placement accuracy and stability, would be optimal for use in Mexico, where only a few dentists have completed implant training courses and the rate of implant use is not high.

Because Mexico is an emerging market in the dentistry field, the dissemination of new digital dentistry technologies and the provision of digital dental equipment are more easily achieved. A spokesperson for Osstem explained: “In countries where the implant industry is mature, it’s necessary to make efforts to shift the perception of existing consumers from an analogue to a digital approach through various marketing and educational activities. However, in a newly rising market like Mexico, a digital dental market can be formed from the very beginning.”

Dr Park also explained the basic concept of a digital workflow to attendees and emphasised that an in-office all-in-one system can be built by utilising an intra-oral scanner, CBCT device, dental 3D printer and milling equipment. At the end of the lecture, he commented, “It’s time now to get started in the fascinating field of digital dental medicine”, underlining the advent of the digital era. He added, “Digital planning that can effectively respond to any clinical condition and produce accurate results is now a key factor for a successful implant surgery.” The company’s T2 CBCT unit was also demonstrated to attendees to aid their understanding of digital dental equipment.

“I hope that the latest digital products that I saw at the Osstem headquarters’ showroom will be available in Mexico soon” - Dr Noé Francisco Santana Domínguez

Orthodontist Dr Noé Francisco Santana Domínguez, a lecturer at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City, said: “Among the various clinical education programmes provided at Osstem’s headquarters in South Korea, I was the most satisfied with the lectures on digital dentistry and digital planning. Many dentists in Mexico need to explore digital dentistry. Therefore, I look forward to advanced training in digital dentistry. I hope that the latest digital products that I saw at the Osstem headquarters’ showroom will be available in Mexico soon.”

Dr Perla Isabel Diaz Lara, an orthodontist who has 25 years of experience and is conducting procedures closely related to dental implant placement, said: “Osstem’s products made in South Korea are already enjoying a good reputation thanks to their excellent quality. All the clinical education programmes provided at the headquarters were very pleasing.” With respect to the tour programme, she said, “I did not know that there are so many product lines. As I looked around the Osstem showroom, I was particularly impressed with the high level of digitalisation in the field of orthodontics.” She added, “I liked the tour of the model dental clinic the most, and the explanations of the dental hygiene treatment line were outstanding.”

Dr Hugo Mendoza Suárez, a maxillofacial surgeon who used to teach at the Centro Latinoamericano de Estudios Ortodónticos (Latin American centre for orthodontic studies) in Mexico City, said: “The visit to Osstem’s South Korean headquarters and production base in Busan has changed my impression of South Korean brands and products. I not only verified the superiority of Osstem’s products in person, but also felt the company’s vision and mission. Osstem is competitive not only in Mexico but across the globe.”

He continued, “I appreciated the efforts and sincerity of Osstem, especially for preparing the tour programme which introduced major tourist destinations in South Korea to us. I think that South Koreans’ perseverance, pertinacity and hard work can serve as an example for many countries.”

Osstem continues to provide clinical training to dentists around the world at its South Korean headquarters, enhancing brand trust and product understanding.

Osstem is also scheduled to provide clinical training to dentists from Malaysia, India, Mongolia, Turkey, Vietnam, Tunisia and Hong Kong, who will visit the headquarters in November and December. The lectures are intended to help participants better understand digital dentistry and the use of Osstem’s products, including OneGuide, and participants will be able to choose the training they attend based on the needs in their country.

Osstem’s confidence in conducting invitational training comes from over 20 years of offering clinical training to dentists and having established an environment equipped with the industry’s best educational facilities and practice equipment. Osstem established South Korea’s first implant training centre in 2001 and provided dentists in South Korea and other countries with free training on implant surgery procedures. This was followed by a branch in Los Angeles in California in the US specialised in training Korean-American dentists in LA.

By the end of 2021, the Osstem training centre had conducted implant surgery training for more than 100,000 dentists across the globe, 85% of whom were foreign dentists. Osstem has established Osstem training centres at its 30 overseas subsidiaries in 26 countries to operate more than 100 regular education sites and deliver online lectures on live surgery and other relevant areas. Osstem expects some 160,000 dentists to complete its clinical training programmes by 2026.

Osstem’s Central Research Institute has a separate training facility. The institute provides specialised facilities for each training course, including a digital seminar room, implant seminar room, operating room set up for live broadcasting and technician seminar room. Dental professionals can also experience the latest devices in practical demonstrations, including SMS, the implant surgery engine, the OneMill 5x five-axis dry milling machine (Osstem), the Osstell Beacon implant stability quotient measuring instrument and the TRIOS 4 wireless intra-oral scanner (3Shape)

The head of the Osstem Implant trainign centre in South Korea, Dr Kim Kyoung-won, said, “Dentistry lecturers who visit our training facilities also admire the quality of our latest equipment and teaching materials. Some dental schools even use our training materials for their lectures.”

On-site lectures by South Korean authorities possessing abundant implant expertise, the best educational infrastructure and a large exhibition space where dental professionals can see and experience the company’s products foster a higher level of brand trust and product understanding.

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