Lesson 1Ridge evaluation: clinical ridge width and height measurements, palpation for cortical plates, location of concavities or undercutsHands-on ridge checks including measuring width and height, feeling for bone plates, spotting dips or hooks, matching these with scans to fine-tune grafting plans.
Crestal ridge width measurement techniquesAssessing vertical ridge height clinicallyPalpation of buccal and lingual cortical platesIdentifying concavities and undercuts by touchClassifying ridge defects for graft planningCorrelating clinical and radiographic findingsLesson 2Radiographic assessment of bone quality and cortical thickness, presence of residual socket walls, lingual undercut, and proximity to adjacent rootsX-ray checks for bone strength, plate thickness, leftover socket walls, tongue-side hooks, and closeness to nearby teeth roots, tying to implant grip, graft pick, and plate breach risks.
Assessing trabecular bone density patternsEvaluating buccal and lingual cortical thicknessIdentifying residual socket walls and defectsDetecting lingual undercuts and concavitiesProximity to adjacent roots and root morphologyImplications for graft selection and stabilityLesson 3Dental and oral history: timing of extraction, prior infections, periodontal status, parafunction, and previous implant/prosthetic historyKey dental history bits affecting back lower jaw implants and grafts, spotting risks, timing pulls, blending past fixes and surgery info.
Timing and reasons for tooth extractionHistory of acute and chronic infectionsPast periodontal diagnosis and therapyParafunction, bruxism, and clenching habitsPrevious implants, failures, and complicationsExisting prostheses and occlusal schemesLesson 4Soft tissue imaging and planning: measuring keratinized tissue on images and use of intraoral scanning or photos for documentationAssess gums via scans and pics, measure tough gum width, gum thickness, record for flap plans, grafting, and implant shape setup.
Measuring keratinized tissue on radiographsUsing intraoral scanners for soft tissue mappingStandardized clinical photography protocolsEvaluating mucosal thickness and phenotypePlanning soft tissue grafting needsArchiving digital records for follow-upLesson 5Targeted clinical exam: extraoral exam, intraoral soft tissue assessment, vestibular depth, keratinized tissue width, frenulum attachments, and mucosal qualityStep-by-step mouth and face checks for back lower sites, outside and inside gums, groove depth, tough gum width, gum ties, and lining quality for surgery access.
Extraoral symmetry and neurosensory baselineIntraoral soft tissue inspection and palpationMeasuring vestibular depth and mobilityAssessing keratinized tissue width clinicallyEvaluating frenulum position and tensionMucosal quality and scarring around the siteLesson 6Comprehensive medical history: systemic conditions, medications, bleeding risk, smoking, alcohol, bisphosphonates, anticoagulants, and prior radiationFull health history for implant and graft safety, body-wide issues, meds, bleed risks, smokes, booze, bone meds, blood thinners, past ray treatment.
Cardiovascular and metabolic conditionsImmunosuppression and infection riskBleeding disorders and anticoagulant therapyBisphosphonates and other antiresorptivesSmoking, alcohol, and healing capacityHistory of head and neck radiationLesson 7Legal, consent, and referral considerations: when to refer for medical clearance or specialist input and documentation essentialsLegal duties in implant plans, patient okay forms, record rules, when to get doc clearance or expert help to keep patients safe and docs covered.
Elements of informed consent for implantsDocumenting risks, benefits, and alternativesWhen to seek medical clearanceIndications for specialist referralRecord keeping and imaging documentationManaging patient expectations in writingLesson 8CBCT and radiographic planning: ordering CBCT, expected DICOM data, slice selection, cross-sectional views, panoramic limitationsPractical 3D scan use for back lower plans, ordering tips, data handling, slice picks, side views, limits of wide x-rays.
Indications and timing for CBCT orderingField of view and resolution selectionImporting and managing DICOM datasetsChoosing optimal axial and cross sectionsUsing panoramic reconstructions cautiouslyRadiation dose and justification principlesLesson 9Key measurements from imaging: horizontal ridge width at crest and 1–3 mm subcrestal, vertical height to mandibular canal, distance to inferior alveolar canal, angulation and available bone lengthMust-have size and angle measures from scans for back lower spots, ridge width top and below, height to jaw pipe, angle for safe implant spots and grafts.
Measuring crestal and subcrestal ridge widthAssessing vertical height to mandibular canalDetermining distance to inferior alveolar canalEvaluating implant angulation in cross sectionsEstimating available bone length and trajectoryMeasurement calibration and error reductionLesson 10Periodontal and occlusal assessment: probing, attachment levels on adjacent teeth, occlusal scheme, opposing dentition considerationsGum and bite checks around back lower sites, depth probes, grip levels on nearby teeth, bite setup, top teeth effects for load and implant risks.
Probing depths on adjacent teethClinical attachment and bone support levelsFurcation involvement near implant sitesStatic and dynamic occlusal analysisOpposing dentition and parafunctional loadPeriodontal stability before implant therapy
