I just got back from teaching at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry All-Star Course, hosted by the Wherle Implant Immersion Center in Puebla, Mexico. We trained advanced Implant Dentists from America and Canada to perform life-changing digital “teeth in a day” procedures and advanced bone grafting techniques on local underserved Patients at no charge to them.
Our doctor trainees performed roughly 31 full-arch immediate-load implant restorations,120 single implants, and dozens of sinus lifts, bone grafts, and advanced grafting procedures. This was all under the watchful eye of our “all-star” instruction team, composed of 14 instructors at the Diplomate Level, the highest level of training in Implant Dentistry. Diplomates are Board-Certified Implantologists who have achieved rigorous training and passed a national board exam in implantology. At this course, we had 5 past presidents of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the largest and most respected Dental Implant Organization in the world. So, to say that the Dentists in Training received good instruction would be an understatement.
An Immersive Course Experience
This was my second time instructing at a large dental implant course in as many years. This course in particular was very well run, thanks to the immense energy of the host, Dr. Michael Wherle, and his wonderful team. The WIIC center is a beautiful facility with a full dental clinic, a full kitchen and staff, rooms for the visiting doctors, and an open-air rooftop gymnasium (where I and several other doctors were able to get a yoga class in each morning thanks to one of the laboratory technicians being a part-time yoga instructor – thanks Ben!)
I have been to many live surgery dental implant courses in my career. Since I started placing dental implants in 2009, the popularity of these courses has surged, and dentists have more options than ever for receiving advanced implant training. Unfortunately, many of these courses are hosted by less qualified instructors, and while the patients receive care at little to no charge, the follow-up care is neglected in pop-up-type courses, creating difficult situations for the patients who receive care if there are complications or necessary follow-up care.
At this course, the local dentists who are regularly treating the patients were observing, and the patients have a dental “home” where they will be taken care of for the long run under the watchful eye of Dr. Wherle and his team. Since this is an ongoing training course hosted almost monthly, the patients will surely have a new batch of American-trained doctors there to ensure the life-changing smiles delivered will continue to serve them for many years.
In addition to Dr. Wherle and his wife Tammy, I would like to thank all of the Members of the Academy of Implant Dentistry who were involved in promoting this very successful course, including many of my fellow colleagues who hold leadership positions in the academy.
Our Valued Hosts and Colleagues
These courses require a monumental amount of energy to promote, organize, and pull off successfully. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Dr. Michael Wherle, his wife Tammy, and their wonderful team in Puebla, and the very generous donation of their teaching facility to host the AAID Regional Meeting, we were able to raise over $200,000 for the AAID and the local Puebla and Cholula community, in addition to providing life-changing dental work to an underserved community.
I would also like to thank all of the Members of the Academy of Implant Dentistry who were involved with promoting this very successful course, including many of my fellow colleagues who hold leadership positions in the academy and hail from all around the United States and Canada: Dr. William Liang, Dr. Bernee Dunson, Dr/ Frank Caputo, Dr. Aman Bhullar, Dr. Jeremy Sant, Dr. Grace Chung, Dr. Matt Young, Dr. Shane Samy, Dr. Keith Long, Dr. Ed Kusek, Dr. David Resnik and a special thanks to Dr. Art Miralez and the InstaRisa team of dental lab technicians who provided the full arch dental restorations for our patients so they could have teeth installed on their implants the next day.
More Than Implant Training
There were many beautiful smiles and tears of happiness. Many of these doctors have mentored me throughout my implant career, and I always get more than I give in these courses in terms of new knowledge, as well as the joy of seeing the wonderful work we do for these very grateful patients.
All of the All-Star Dental Instruction team, including myself, donated our time at no charge. All funds from the All-Star course raised by tuition from the trainees went towards The American Academy of Implant Dentistry, a non-profit organization to promote training in implant dentistry and the education of doctors from around the world, and also to Dr. Wherle’s personal mission of building state-of-the-art orphanages in Mexico.
We were privileged to get to see photos of the beautiful orphanage Dr. Wherle has already built, and to learn that he is now working on his second one. The WIIC is not only providing needed dental care to an underserved population in Mexico, but also making the community a better place through Dr. Wherle’s mission to give orphans a safe and beautiful place to live, learn, and play.
Learn More About the Mission
In addition to Take 2 Dental's donation of time through closing down our clinic to attend this course, we will be making a monetary donation to Dr. Wherle's efforts in Puebla and Cholula, Mexico. If you would also like to learn about the great work the Wherle family and team are doing in Mexico or perhaps even to make a donation, please visit: https://hebdental.com/mission/