Hands-On Implant Placement Training for General Dentists in North Carolina
Many general dentists who want to add implants to their practice reach the same point. The concepts make sense, and the next step is placing implants in real patients with an experienced mentor beside you.
SIDE, the Southeast Institute for Dental Education, is Local Start Dental's training center in Durham, North Carolina. Its next Beginner Single Implant Placement Course runs November 13 and 14, 2026, and it is the last SIDE course on the 2026 calendar.
Questions to ask about any hands-on implant course
Implant courses vary a lot in format. Before you register for one, these questions help you compare them:
Will you place implants in live patients, or only on models?
How many participants share each mentor during surgery?
Which cases does the course focus on, and are they a sensible first step for your experience?
Does the course cover the restorative side, or only placement?
Is there a clear next course once you have the basics?
Where is it held, and how many days will you be away from your practice?
The SIDE Beginner Single Implant Placement Course
Here is how SIDE describes the course:
Who it is for: professionals who are starting their surgical dental implant journey.
Length: two days.
Focus: single implant restorations (single crowns), with surgical placement mainly in the posterior area in healed sites.
Live patients: each participant places 1 to 3 implants on live patients.
Mentoring: no more than four participants per mentor.
Location: 370 Jackson Street, Durham, NC 27701, the same building as Local Start Dental.
Next dates: November 13 and 14, 2026.
Tuition: $5,500.
Focusing on posterior single implants in healed sites gives a first course a defined scope. You work on one type of case, with a mentor close by, before moving on to more complex treatment.
Full details are on the Beginner Single Implant Placement Course page, and you can hold a place through SIDE course registration. Questions can go to SIDE at 919-569-5533 or info@side-dental.org.
What comes after the beginner course
SIDE's course catalog builds from single implants toward more complex restorations. As the catalog describes them:
Surgical and Restorative Single Implant: for professionals with adequate experience who want to expand their implant expertise.
Surgical and Restorative Overdenture: for professionals experienced in oral surgery but new to implant placement.
Surgical and Restorative Fixed-Hybrid: an advanced surgical and prosthetic course for those with implant placement experience.
Small-Group Single Implant or Overdenture Case: for practitioners with limited implant experience, or those who want more confidence.
Extraction and Socket Preservation: an intensive course on combining extraction and preservation techniques.
Dates for 2027 courses are not posted yet. If you want to plan ahead, contact SIDE and ask to hear when they are.
Why the training happens inside a nonprofit clinic
SIDE courses take place at Local Start Dental, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dental clinic in downtown Durham that has provided $19.4 million in donated dentistry since 2021. Patients in SIDE courses receive implant treatment as part of the training, including restorative work and follow-up care, which is how the courses can offer live-patient experience.
For more on how Local Start Dental approaches education, read beyond the clinic: training dentists and our overview of dentist continuing education courses in North Carolina. An earlier post describes the surgical single implant placement course as it ran at the time.
Continuing education at Local Start Dental is also summarized on our CE credits page.
Reserve a place for November
If you are ready to place your first implants with a mentor beside you, the November 13 and 14 course is the next opportunity in Durham. Tuition is $5,500.
Register for a SIDE course or call SIDE at 919-569-5533.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Every patient's situation is unique, and treatment recommendations may vary based on individual circumstances, medical history, and oral health conditions.
Only a qualified dental professional can determine appropriate treatment after a thorough examination and consultation.
The content on this page is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any dental condition. Always seek the advice of qualified healthcare providers regarding any questions you may have about oral health treatments.
Local Start Dental's fee schedules, financing options, and sliding scale programs are subject to change and qualification requirements. Contact our office directly for current eligibility information.
Individual results may vary, and there are risks associated with any surgical procedure.
Fees shown in this article are current as of the publication date and are subject to change. See the course page for current pricing. Eligibility for sliding scale fees and for financing is determined by application.
