For dentists learning implant dentistry, the opportunity to participate in live surgery can be an important step from education to clinical application. But live implant surgery is not where preparation should begin.
The most effective preparation happens beforehand—through foundational education, treatment planning, hands-on exercises, and repeated practice of essential surgical techniques.
That is why a structured approach matters. At Restored Smiles, the implant education pathway progresses from online learning to lecture and hands-on training before dentists advance to live patient surgery in Mexico.
If you are considering preparing for live implant surgery training, understanding what should happen before you enter the surgical environment can help you get much more from the experience.
Live surgery introduces variables that cannot always be replicated in a classroom.
A real patient has a medical history, anatomy, expectations, radiographic findings, and clinical circumstances that require thoughtful evaluation. Dentists need to be prepared to make decisions while maintaining appropriate surgical technique and patient care.
Before participating in live implant surgery, dentists should have a working understanding of:
These areas form the foundation for making live surgical training productive rather than overwhelming.
A major advantage of a progressive implant education model is that each stage prepares dentists for the next.
Training Stage | Primary Focus | How It Helps Prepare for Live Surgery |
Session One | Online foundational education | Builds knowledge of case selection, diagnostics, implant concepts, surgical setup, CGF/PRF, and more |
Session Two | Lecture + hands-on training | Converts concepts into practical skills through exercises involving grafting, suturing, flap design, and implant placement |
Session Three | Live patient surgery | Gives eligible dentists the opportunity to apply their training in real clinical cases |
Restored Smiles describes Session Three as the live-surgery portion of its three-stage program, with Sessions One and Two required before enrollment.
Dentists interested in the complete pathway can explore the Restored Smiles implant education program or review the Sessions 1–3 training pathway.
The first step is understanding the principles behind implant treatment.
Restored Smiles’ online Session One covers topics such as case selection, implant surfaces, zirconia implants, implant stability assessment, guided surgery workflows, immediate implant placement, surgical setup, photography, and concentrated growth factors.
This foundational stage allows dentists to study important concepts before moving into hands-on education.
For busy dentists, this can also be useful because the online curriculum can be reviewed at their own pace.
Knowledge alone does not create surgical confidence.
The next step is hands-on training where dentists can practice techniques before applying them to real patients.
Restored Smiles’ Session Two combines lectures with hands-on exercises involving socket preservation, bone grafting, flap design, suturing, implant placement, atraumatic extraction, implant temporization, and other implant scenarios.
This is an important part of preparing for live implant surgery training because dentists have an opportunity to become more familiar with the sequence of a procedure before entering a live surgical environment.
For dentists who want to understand this stage in more detail, the Session Two lecture and hands-on implant training provides an overview of the curriculum.
Live surgery is not simply about knowing how to place an implant.
A dentist also needs to understand why a particular implant treatment plan makes sense for a particular patient.
Before live surgery, review:
CBCT interpretation is particularly relevant when planning implant surgery. Restored Smiles’ Session Three includes case evaluation and CBCT training as part of the live-surgery experience.
Preparation also includes practical planning.
Area | What to Consider |
Clinical knowledge | Review implant placement and treatment-planning fundamentals |
Surgical skills | Refresh suturing, flap management, extraction, and grafting techniques |
Diagnostics | Review CBCT interpretation and case evaluation |
Instruments | Understand the surgical armamentarium you will be working with |
Documentation | Be prepared to review patient records and treatment information |
Teamwork | Understand your role and communicate clearly with the surgical team |
Travel | Plan transportation, lodging, documentation, and timing well in advance |
Assistant | Consider bringing an assistant for the live-surgery portion |
Restored Smiles specifically recommends that attendees bring an assistant to Session Three.
One of the biggest misconceptions about live surgical training is that the primary goal is simply to place as many implants as possible.
The broader objective is developing clinical judgment.
During Session Three, dentists participate in two full days of live surgery and receive exposure to case evaluation, CBCT training, post-operative instructions, and pain-management considerations. The course provides 24 CE units and is held in Mexico.
The current 2026 schedule lists the next Session Three date as November 20–21, 2026, in Mexico.
Importantly, the number of implants or procedures is not guaranteed because experience levels and individual clinical circumstances vary. Restored Smiles states that it will make every effort to provide each doctor with multiple surgical experiences.
That distinction matters. The value of live surgery should not be measured only by a procedure count.
Before traveling for live implant surgery training, dentists can use this checklist:
Preparation | Ready? |
Completed required foundational implant education | ☐ |
Completed hands-on implant training | ☐ |
Reviewed implant treatment planning | ☐ |
Reviewed anatomy and surgical fundamentals | ☐ |
Practiced suturing techniques | ☐ |
Reviewed bone grafting and socket preservation | ☐ |
Reviewed CBCT and diagnostic concepts | ☐ |
Reviewed post-operative care principles | ☐ |
Arranged travel and accommodation | ☐ |
Coordinated with an assistant if bringing one | ☐ |
Prepared questions for instructors | ☐ |
The more comfortable you are with the fundamentals before arriving, the more attention you can devote to clinical decision-making and learning from real cases.
For dentists in California and throughout the United States, the Restored Smiles model provides a structured progression.
The hands-on portion takes place at Restored Smiles Ranch in Lompoc, California, while Session Three provides live surgical experience in Mexico. The 2026 schedule lists Session Two for October 16–17 and Session Three for November 20–21.
This sequence is intentional: learn the concepts, practice the techniques, then apply that preparation in a live clinical environment.
Dentists who are not yet ready for live surgery can begin with Session One online and progress to Session Two hands-on training before advancing to Session Three.
This approach can be particularly useful for dentists who:
It is also important to recognize that continuing education does not replace appropriate clinical judgment, credentialing, or compliance with applicable laws and professional standards.
The best preparation for live implant surgery is not simply checking prerequisites off a list.
It is developing enough foundational knowledge and practical experience that you can focus on the patient, the case, and the surgical decisions happening in front of you.
That is why the progression from online education to hands-on practice and finally to live surgery can be valuable.
If you are considering your next step, explore the Restored Smiles implant education program or learn more about Session Three live implant surgery training.
Do I need previous hands-on implant training before live surgery?
Yes. Restored Smiles requires completion of Sessions One and Two before dentists can enroll in Session Three.
Where does the live implant surgery training take place?
The current Session Three program is held in Mexico. The 2026 schedule lists the next session for November 20–21, 2026.
How long is Session Three?
Session Three consists of two full days of live surgery and provides 24 CE units. The listed course hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Is the number of implants guaranteed?
No. Restored Smiles states that the number of implants and procedures is not guaranteed because clinical experience and case circumstances vary. However, the course team says it will make every effort to provide multiple surgical experiences.
Can Session Three be taken later than Sessions One and Two?
Yes. Restored Smiles states that Session Three can be completed later, although it ideally should be taken within one year of Sessions One and Two when possible.
Should I bring an assistant?
Restored Smiles recommends that each attending dentist bring an assistant for the live-surgery portion.
Live implant surgery can be an important milestone in a dentist’s continuing education, but preparation should come first.
By building foundational knowledge, practicing surgical techniques, reviewing treatment planning, and becoming comfortable with the clinical workflow before treating real patients, dentists can arrive at live surgery better prepared to learn.
For dentists considering preparing for live implant surgery training, the goal should not simply be to get into the operating environment. The goal should be to arrive ready to learn, participate, ask informed questions, and continue developing the skills needed for responsible implant dentistry.
