About the School

Implant Program

The Implant Program, an integral part of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, is dedicated to providing high quality, comprehensive educational opportunities in the placement and restoration of dental implants for our undergraduate and postgraduate students and for area practitioners.  Through these educational opportunities, the Dental Implant Program functions as a regional support network for the advancement of dental implant studies and practice in southern Illinois and the surrounding region.

Fellowship in Implant Dentistry

The Fellowship in Implant Dentistry is a one-year, clinically oriented program in which implant fellows perform all phases of implant dentistry. Fellows are selected for training each year from a nationwide applicant pool. The responsibilities of the fellows include, but are not limited to:

• Performance of advanced patient care in implant dentistry and related clinical disciplines under supervision of the faculty of the implant program.
• Clinical supervision of implant procedures performed by AEGD graduate students and undergraduate students.
• Organization and facilitation of journal reviews and seminars in implant dentistry.
• Participation in clinical and/or laboratory research in implant dentistry leading to publication and/or presentation.
• Participation in didactic and preclinical laboratory education in implant dentistry for undergraduate students.

Applicants to the SIU School of Dental Medicine Fellowship in Implant Dentistry must complete the attached Implant Fellowship Application.

Ongoing Educational Opportunities

The Dental Implant Program sponsors an ongoing schedule of continuing education opportunities:

• Full day courses featuring local, national and international lecturers.

• Clinical Courses
• Multiple Day Scientific Meetings

Research Commitment

The faculty members who support the Implant Program believe that it is not only our goal, but our duty to continually search for and attempt to provide significant advancements in the field of implant dentistry through ongoing research efforts. This Implant Program is dedicated to the exploration of both basic and applied research that will refine biomaterials and techniques, thus improving the long-term stability, function and esthetics of dental implants and related prostheses.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Robert L. Blackwell, D.D.S.
Acting Director of Implant Dentistry
C/O Jill Thirion
Southern Illinois University
School of Dental Medicine
2800 College Avenue, Building 273
Alton, IL 62002

Phone: (618) 474-7164
E-mail: jthirio@siue.edu
FAX: (618) 474-7249