CDE1836 - Team Approach to Dental Implant Maintenance for Long-Term Success

Course Description

Confused about dental implant maintenance? Me too…

The dental implant industry is growing at a rapid rate.  Advancements in technology and science are growing faster than clinicians can keep up.  What we were taught about implant maintenance in school varies depending on the year we graduated and may no longer be the current standard of care. 

Conflicting messages can be frustrating to dental teams. The science of implantology is industry and technology-driven; the disciplines of surgical placement, restorative, and hygiene maintenance do not communicate well with each other.  To open a dialog, we encourage the restorative dentists and assistants to attend this class with their hygiene teams.

This class, taught from a historical perspective, will review changing trends in dental maintenance as they relate to biocompatibility, trauma, corrosion, and dysbiosis. 

Learner Outcomes

Upon course completion, the participant will:

• Analyze historical and current trends in dental implant manufacturing to understand how material and design changes influence long-term clinical outcomes.
• Evaluate treatment protocols for mucositis and peri-implantitis to identify evidence-based strategies for effective clinical management.
• Identify and recommend safe, evidence-based home care protocols to support the maintenance and longevity of dental implants.
• Assess hygiene maintenance practices critically to identify those that may contribute to implant failure and recommend modifications where needed.
• Recognize and apply knowledge of patient and implant-related risk factors when planning and delivering implant maintenance care.
• Interpret the relevance of legacy implant systems by tracing their historical development and assessing their clinical implications today.
• Demonstrate the ability to locate and apply Instructions for Use (IFU) for legacy implant components, including torque values and instrumentation, to ensure accurate and safe treatment.

Notes

Presenter:

Lynn Pencek, RDH, MS

Lynn Pencek is a distinguished leader in the dental hygiene community for dental implant education, blending industry expertise with clinical experience. As a former member of the Nobel Biocare team, she played a pivotal role in helping dental practices integrate new technology and streamline workflows for optimal implant treatment. Her expertise spans surgical assisting, clinical workflows, digital case planning for guided surgery, account and inventory management, marketing, and patient education for case acceptance.  Driven by a deep passion for a better understanding of implant care and maintenance, Lynn founded Practice at Your Best, LLC, to address the gaps in education and training for implant surgery, restorative dentistry, and dental hygiene maintenance. Through her company, she empowers professionals with essential insights, bridging the disconnect between dental hygiene education and the industry of dental implant care.  Lynn started her clinical career as a graduate of Broome County Community College Department of Dental Hygiene. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Dental Hygiene and received her Master of Science from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.  Lynn has held Dental Hygiene faculty appointments at Thomas Jefferson University and the Community College of Philadelphia. She has served as a Corporate Council member for Dimensions in Dental Hygiene, representing Nobel Biocare and Orascoptic. Lynn Holds an Advanced Certificate with the Association of Dental Implant Auxiliaries.  As a past president of the Philadelphia Dental Hygiene Society and a ten-year attendee of Career Fusion, Lynn has spent her career helping dental professionals explore options for having their best careers.