What It's Like to Be a Patient in a Local Start Dental Training Course
- Local Start Dental
- Aug 18
- 4 min read
If you have looked into getting dental implants at Local Start Dental and come across the mention of training courses, you might have questions. What does it mean to be a patient in a continuing education course? Who is doing the work? Is it safe? Is the care the same quality? This article answers those questions plainly so you can decide whether this is the right path for your care.
What the Training Program Actually Is
Local Start Dental partners with the Southeast Institute for Dental Education (SIDE) to offer continuing education courses for licensed dental professionals. These are not dental school clinics. The dentists who participate in SIDE courses are practicing dentists who are already in clinical careers, advancing their implant skills through a structured training program. Think of it the way a physician completes a fellowship to build specialist expertise. These are experienced clinicians, not students.
Every procedure is supervised in real time by highly experienced mentors, including Dr. Mahmoud Serag, a board-certified prosthodontist with over 20 years of clinical experience and a fellowship in periodontics and implantology from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He is the Clinical Director of Local Start Dental and the founder of SIDE.
Patients who participate in SIDE courses receive the benefit of that training directly, at a price that makes treatment genuinely accessible. Participants save up to 80 percent compared to typical private practice rates.
What Is Included
This is worth understanding clearly before anything else, because it is one of the most significant differences between SIDE and other reduced-cost dental options.
When you participate as a SIDE patient, the following are included in your treatment:
Your dental implant procedure, whether you need one implant or several
Bone grafting, if needed, at no additional cost
All restorative work, including your permanent crown
Post-operative care and all follow-up appointments
From your first implant to your final crown, everything takes place at Local Start Dental's fully equipped Durham clinic. There are no surprise costs for additional procedures once you are in the program.
How to Get Started
Step 1: Comprehensive Exam Your first step is a comprehensive exam including all necessary diagnostic X-rays, available for $39 (regularly $75). This gives the clinical team everything needed to evaluate your eligibility and build your treatment plan. The exam takes place at Local Start Dental's downtown Durham clinic.
Step 2: Pre-Treatment Depending on your oral health, you may need a cleaning and/or fillings before your implant procedure. All pre-treatment takes place at the Durham clinic. Local Start Dental's sliding scale fee structure applies to pre-treatment costs.
Step 3: Your Implant Procedure On the day of the course, you receive your dental implant at the clinic. You are treated by a fully licensed dentist, supervised in real time by highly trained and experienced mentors.
Patient spots in each SIDE course are limited and fill quickly. Reaching out early in the process gives you the best chance of being matched to an upcoming session.
What the Experience Is Actually Like
You arrive at Local Start Dental's 5,000 square foot downtown Durham clinic, the same fully equipped facility where all patient care takes place. Advanced 3D imaging, the latest clinical equipment, and an on-site lab are all part of the environment where your care happens.
Because this is a teaching environment, your appointment moves at a more gradual pace than a typical private practice visit. Your team takes the time to ensure everything is done precisely and correctly. For most patients, the longer appointment time is a straightforward tradeoff for accessing care that would otherwise cost significantly more.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility depends on several clinical factors: the condition of the implant site, bone density, gum health, and overall medical history. Some factors that affect candidacy can be addressed before treatment begins. The best way to find out whether you qualify is to schedule the comprehensive exam. The clinical team reviews everything and walks you through your options honestly.
SIDE courses serve patients from across North Carolina and beyond. Local Start Dental accepts NC Medicaid where coverage applies, and financing options are available for qualified patients through third-party lenders.
What It Costs
Care received through SIDE at Local Start Dental is priced on the same sliding scale as all other care at the clinic. Your cost is determined by your validated household income. The SIDE program allows patients to save up to 80 percent compared to typical private practice implant rates.
Financing options are available for qualified patients.
Ready to Find Out If You Qualify?
The first step costs $39 and gives you a complete clinical picture of your options. If SIDE is the right fit, your care team will tell you. If it is not, they will tell you that too, and discuss what other paths are available.
Patient spots fill quickly. Request information or schedule your exam at side-dental.org, or call 919-569-5533.
To understand the broader landscape of dental implant options in North Carolina, see our guide to affordable dental implants in NC without insurance.
Disclaimer: Savings figures represent estimates based on comparisons to typical private practice rates and individual results vary. Sliding scale fees are determined by validated household income documentation and assessed on a case-by-case basis. Financing is subject to third-party lender approval. Patient eligibility for SIDE courses is subject to clinical evaluation. This article does not constitute medical, dental, or financial advice.
