Private Practice, Implantology, and Continuing Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) (synonym: continuing education [CE])1 in Ukrainian stomatology reached a new level in 2019 by the Order (# 446, dated February 22) entitled “Some issues of CPD of doctors” was officially published.2 According to new Order of Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine,3 every physician-stomatologist must score: 1. 50 CPD points obtained in 2020 or 2021 for certification in 2021. 2. 100 CPD points obtained in 2020 and 2021 for certification in 2022. 3. 150 CPD points obtained in 2020, 2021, and 2022 for certification in 2023. The CPD points can be scored for a wide variety of activities, like: 1) participation in scientific and practical conference, congress or symposium, 2) distance (digital) learning using electronic learning resources, 3) thematic training (professional schools, seminars, workshops, etc.), 4) study or internship at a university or health care institution – in Ukraine or abroad, 5) publication of an article in a peer-review journal, etc.3 Attestation is needed 1) to continue (or to obtain a right) practicing in a certain specialty, 2) to confirm the assigned qualification category or a new higher one assignment.4 The Procedure for attestation of doctors notes that it is aimed to improve the activities of health care institutions of all forms of ownership.4 Physician- stomatologist-surgeon (ie, oral surgeon) who moves own private surgical practice forward is more than interested in obtaining the Second, First and Highest qualification category. Special motivation of the surgeon to obtain the categories is usually driven by the wish to perform dental implantation (Fig 1) and bone grafting procedures. For example, according to the instructions (approved by the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine) the physician-stomatologist-surgeon of the Second qualification category among other surgical procedures must be able to perform dental implantation and related manipulations within the alveolar process without additional bone grafting.5 Also, the instructions Publication of the scientific paper (case report,8 case series, images` article,9 viewpoint,10 etc.) is a great option for every stomatologist in Ukraine as it will bring 20 or 30 CPD points depending it`s a publication in Ukrainian or English language peer- reviewed journal (Table 1).3