Who performs implant surgery in a dental training program depends on the structure of the specific program. In some university settings, residents or supervised students may complete portions of treatment. In advanced professional mentorship programs, the participants are already licensed dentists or surgeons who are developing specialized implant skills under the direct guidance of a more experienced surgical team.
Before agreeing to treatment, patients should ask exactly who will perform each step. The clinic should explain who develops the treatment plan, who places the implants, who administers or monitors sedation, who makes the temporary teeth, and who is responsible if the surgical plan needs to change. Patients should not rely on vague statements such as “the team will handle it.” Roles and supervision should be clearly described before consent.
SOTA Dental’s Clinical Excellence Program is not a student clinic. Participating doctors are licensed professionals who have traveled for advanced All-on-4 mentorship. Depending on the individual case and the educational plan, a participating doctor may observe, assist, or perform selected clinical steps under direct supervision. Dr. Nestor, Dr. Diego, and SOTA Dental’s surgical team remain closely involved in planning, surgical guidance, quality control, and the overall clinical outcome.
The purpose is to provide meaningful hands-on education without lowering the standard of patient care. Each accepted case is selected and structured so that clinical responsibilities match the doctors’ experience and the patient’s needs. Patients also benefit from multiple doctors reviewing the diagnosis, implant strategy, prosthetic design, and final result. More information is available at https://sotadental.com/patients-clinical-excellence-program.
