Located in the center of Europe, Liège is known for its lively and vibrant atmosphere. The University of Liège (ULiège) is one of the lead Universities in Belgium. The ITI scholarship Center in Liège is based in the the Department of Periodontology, oro-dental and implant surgery (branded as “UPerio Liège”). The scholar will be actively involved in all Department’s activities either clinical-, didactic- and research-related and will also have access to other faculty departments such as the Department of Prosthodontics, led by Prof. Marc Lamy who is specialist in implant prosthetics.

The University Hospital Dental clinic covers all the dental specialties. Over 1000 implants are placed each year and more than 200 bone augmentation procedures are conducted. The facilities are equipped with the latest technologies such as intra-oral scanners, CBCTs and dynamic guided surgical device.

The Department is also a pregraduate, postgraduate and continuing education training center (UPerio Education). Providing high quality continuous and research-based dental education to dental professionals at all stages of their career, offering different educational programs such as Master in Periodontology and a Certificate in Implant Dentistry as well as conferences, master classes and congresses. As for an overview of activities and facilities, please consult the University's website and the following video (in French): www.uperio-liege.be.

UPerio Liège also works closely with the Department of Prosthodontics, led by Prof. Marc Lamy for many years, collaborating in an interdisciplinary manner. The Department of Prosthodontics has an expertise in conventional / implant prosthetics and occlusodontics with a special interest in full arch rehabilitation. The Department uses routinely the latest digital technologies and modern approaches for treatment planning and prosthetic rehabilitation. Together with his team, Prof. Lamy is also teaching implant prosthetics in pregraduate, postgraduate and continuing education courses. The objective of our University center is to provide high quality patient care, educate the current and future dentists, as well as develop and validate innovative treatment approaches. Our ultimate purpose is to continuously treat patients better, with the vision of being one of the leading centers to train high-level dental professionals. We will be pleased to welcome young professionals and to share our clinical experience and scientific know-how in the field of implant dentistry.

PRESENTATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN EDUCATING THE SCHOLAR  
The University Hospital of Liège (CHU) is the main hospital related to the University and is the only university hospital in Wallonia. Public and pluralistic, CHU is made up of close to 5,000 staffs who bring their wealth of expertise to the benefit of patients. Our university hospital also has facilities in terms of research, patient care, diagnostics, medical library that allow for interdisciplinary collaboration.  
The dental clinic covers all dental specialties, including implantology, oral surgery, and periodontology. The specialist clinic includes more than 70 dentists.  
As ITI Scholarship center, our goal is to develop a close relationship between the ITI scholar and the faculty and that the ITI scholar acquires critical thinking, clinical skills and knowledge in implant dentistry. The scholar will be actively involved in all Department’s activities either clinical-, didactic- and research-related.  

DEPARTMENT OF PERIODONTOLOGY, ORO-DENTAL AND IMPLANT SURGERY  (Prof. France LAMBERT) 
The Department of Periodontology, oro-dental and implant surgery (branded as “UPerio Liège”) headed by Prof. France Lambert, offers state-of-the-art, high-quality treatments to maintain and restore oral-dental health. The Department can rely on experience and knowledge of qualified, competent professionals to provide patients with personalized treatment plans.  
The University Hospital Dental clinic covers all the dental specialties. Over 1000 implants are placed each year and more than 200 bone augmentation procedures are conducted. The facilities comprise 10 dental chairs is equipped with the latest technologies such as intra-oral scanners, CBCTs and dynamic guided surgical device.  
Our Department is also a pregraduate, postgraduate and continuing education training center (UPerio Education). We provide high quality continuous and research-based dental education to the dental profession at all stages of their career. We offer different education programs such a Master in Periodontology and a Certificate in Implant Dentistry as well as conferences, master classes and congresses.  
We are working in close collaboration with the Department of Prosthodontics, led by Prof. Marc Lamy who is specialist in implants prosthetics. Treatment and prosthodontic planning and strategies are discussed and set up together. Our Departments have been working closely since many years and are used to work in an interdisciplinary manner. 
As for an overview our Department’s activities and facilities, please consult our website and the following video (in French): www.uperio-liege.be.

DEPARTMENT OF PROSTHODONTICS (Prof. Marc LAMY) 
The Department has an expertise in conventional / implant prosthetics and occlusodontics with a special interest in full arch rehabilitation. The Department is using routinely the latest digital technologies and modern approaches for treatment planning and prosthetic rehabilitation. Together with his team, Prof. Lamy is also teaching implant prosthetics in pregraduate, postgraduate and continuing education courses.  

RESEARCH ACTVITIES 
The dental-Biomaterials Research Unit (www.d-bru.uliege.be/) is a growing research unit of the University and the CHU of Liège, co-directed by Prof. France Lambert, who is in charge of the regenerative biomaterials and implants division. The regenerative biomaterials and implants research group has developed a wide range of expertise in the field of regenerative dental biomaterials and oral implantology from the bench to the clinic.  
Our research topics focus on the development, characterization, improvement, and evaluation of dental biomaterials.  
In addition, we investigate how implant materials and surgical procedures influence the integration of the implant into the surrounding tissue at both the preclinical and clinical levels. Moreover, we are involved in several European (H2020) and regional projects.  
We are working in an environment that is optimal to develop translational research as we are a University Hospital with a large patient intake. Our Department of Periodontology, Oro-dental and Implant Surgery has broad expertise in pre- and post-market clinical trials design and management, patient recruitment, as well as patient-centered outcomes and surveys in the field of implant dentistry, periodontology, and oral surgery. The clinical research interest focuses on hard and soft tissue regeneration, peri-implant tissue integration, innovative implant protocols and worflows.

FACILITIES 
Dental school (CHU-BRULL): The dental school holds a pre-graduate student clinic of 20 dental units, a prosthodontics and general restorative dentistry clinic of 10 units, an orthodontics and pedodontics clinic of 9 units and a periodontology and oral surgery clinic of 4 units and 1 operation room. These facilities are in the city center, and in a building that also accommodates other postgraduate and undergraduate clinics, a clinical skills laboratory and the dental technology labs.  

Specialized clinic at the University Hospital (CHU Sart-Tilman): The clinic at the Hospital accommodates 8 dental chairs and 2 operatory rooms, and a shared space for members of the staff and students from a number of disciplines. The facilities are outside the city, in a Hospital with spectacular facilities in terms of research, patient care, diagnostics, medical library, etc., allowing interdisciplinary collaborations.  

Flexible desk offices: Both clinics have flexible desk offices available. These shared offices are simply furnished and have computer network access. They are assigned for research and other activities that require use of library materials (books and journal available for reading purposes). Students have access to the library, computer room, printing facilities and other facilities of the University of Liège. 

About the city of Liège: Liège is located in the heart of Europe and is also fairly well connected to other cities : Brussels, Maastricht, Aachen, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Paris, Luxembourg, etc.  Liège is a vibrant city, it's honestly hard to get bored. Festivals, exhibitions, museums, conferences, Le Carré, funfairs, parks, opera, cinema,... People here are “bon vivant”, and like to party, eat, drink and hang out with friends. 
The city center of Liege is also very close to a multitude of green and natural areas, providing great opportunities to escape into nature while still immersed in urban life.

During the Scholarship year, the ITI Scholar will participate in the following clinical activities: 

☒     Treatment planning sessions  
☐      Performing oral hygiene procedures and maintenance   
☒      Observing patient treatment  
☒      Assisting in patient treatment  
☐      Treating patients under faculty supervision 
     ☐      Placing implants  
     ☐      Restoring implants  
☐      Treating patients alone  
     ☐      Placing implants  
     ☐      Restoring implants  
☒      Laboratory and procedures (digital planing) associated with treatment  

The scholar will learn through chair-side assistance of faculty members involved in implant dentistry, either implant surgery (30%) or prosthetic (20%). This allows the scholar to have one-to-one discussions and philosophical exchanges with experienced clinicians. More specifically, clinical decision-making, details about surgical techniques and rational of treatment concepts will be routinely considered.  
ITI Scholar will participate in the treatment planning sessions with the perio team in order to discuss various phases of treatment plan.  
If the scholar is graduated from an EU member state and if he has the recognition of his diploma in Belgium, he may be allowed to see and treat patients including implant cases. 
Scholars must obtain permission to practice in Belgium in order to work with patients. The recognition application process varies from 6 months to 1 year and may involve completing a vocational training in a private clinic. We understand that applying for recognition can be laborious, but it is a way to protect the profession and ensure the quality of healthcare providers' skills in Belgium. Applicants also need this approval to work as a dentist within Belgium's health insurance (for reimbursement of medical services to patients). For these reasons, at the moment, ITI scholars will not have the opportunity to treat their own patients in our center. 

Scholars must obtain permission to practice in Belgium in order to work with patients.  
  
The permission will be obtained following this administrative process :  

1. Recognition of academic qualifications (equivalence): A series of documents have to be sent to the authorities (certified translation). This procedure could last 3 months. 
2. Professional recognition as general dentist (authorization to practice dentistry in Belgium) : Depending on your clinical background, applicants have to perform a paid vocational training (from 6 months to 1 year) in a private practice by treating patients autonomously.  

Candidates can also choose to pass a theoretical exam (aptitude test designed to check your professional knowledge and relating to the essential topics of the profession; this test is including the presentation of at least 2 clinical cases. Please note that once the choice has been made, it will no longer be possible to carry out the vocational training after having failed the aptitude test and vice versa.
Be fluent English and have basic knowledges in French. 

 During the Scholarship year, the ITI Scholar will participate in the following research activities: 

☒      Development and coordinated involvement with existing center research activities 
☐      Involvement in preclinical research  
☐      Involvement in translational research  
☒      Involvement in clinical research   
☒      Mentors will be assigned to the Scholar according to their research preference  
☒      Scholars will be able to start their own research projects 
 

In order to further develop his research skills, the scholar is going to be appointed to an ongoing either clinical or preclinical research project. ITI Scholar will have the opportunity to learn from PhD and senior researcher team members in a well-equipped research environment with state-of-the-art technological platforms. Research methodology training will also be provided to the ITI Scholar.  
Eventually, if applicable, he will develop his own research project (including a thorough literature) as a main investigator, together with a research tutor (an academic advisor will be assigned to provide support and guidance throughout the progress of the research).  

The scholar will be expected to: 
•    Understand the study design and the objectives (study model, time perspectives, enrolment, number of groups, target follow-up duration, outcome measures, interventions, project timetable) 
•    Be familiar with ethical aspects (subject information and consent, subject data protection,…) 
•    Perform clinical data collection (screening visit, clinical evaluation, follow-up evaluation.) 
•    Complete a statistical analysis plan (SAP) (sample size determination, statistical analysis)  
•    Interpret the results  
•    Write report / manuscript 
 

The Scholar's time will be allocated to the activities below as follows (estimate): 
 
•    50% patient care observation or active assisting (30% surgery and 20% prosthetics)  
•    40% research 
•    10% didactic (lectures and/or courses the Scholar can attend) 

The lectures, classes and/or courses the Scholar can attend will be held in the following language: French or english 
Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in all our postgraduate education programs, including ITI events either local, national or international. This will be a great opportunity for scholar’s networking, exploring different approaches to science, and learning about the views and perspectives of other universities. If accepted, research project’s results may also be presented at international congresses in the field of implant dentistry, such as ITI Symposium, EuroPerio or EAO… 
 

Our Department also organizes several continuing education trainings that will be part of scholarship’s program: 

Postgraduate program in Periodontology and Implant dentistry: This training is designed for students graduated in Dental Medicine who want to pursue a career in Periodontics and Oral Implants dentistry. The program is a 3-year full time program providing the opportunity to develop periodontics knowledge’s by intensive clinical activity and extensive learning in periodontology. It benefits from the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) accreditation. This accreditation confirms that the program meets strict and recognized set of services and quality standards defined by the EFP. Copy of the program is provided in Appendix 4. 

•    Scholars participate in theoretical courses within the postgraduate program in periodontology together with the enrolled postgraduate students. Didactic learning is given by various teaching methods such as clinical case discussion, literature review seminars, ex cathedra lectures, group discussions, presentation of critical evaluation of the literature by the students. They will also have the opportunity to attend meetings, congresses and external conferences organized either by the Department or by academic partners.  

Certificate in Implant Dentistry: The certificate in implant dentistry is an academic 2-year part-time training program that is aimed to enable experienced dentists to start practicing implant dentistry. This implant training includes theoretical lectures and hands-on, clinical training and research study preparations.  The aims of the program is to provide to participants an in-depth understanding of implant dentistry. A multidisciplinary approach enables students to also develop their knowledge about the other specialties of dentistry, which is, in our vision, essential for the good practice of implantology. The training is given in French. Copy of the program is provided in Appendix 5. 

•    ITI scholar will join participants registered in the program for theoretical and hands-on, clinical case discussion and documentation (case report), adopting a mixed learning approach (e-learning).  

UPerio continuing education program: Each year, the Department set up a new education program specially designed for all practitioners interested in periodontology and implantology. 4 international guest speakers are invited per year to lead the conferences within the UPerio series and to present their latest development in periodontology and implantology. ITI scholar will be participating in all conferences given by international guest speakers. Copy of the program for the academic year 2022-2023 is provided in Appendix 6.  

•    Every 2 year, the Department of Periodontology and Oral Surgery together with the Prosthetic Departments is holding an international congress dedicated to implant dentistry during 3 days. This congress offers workshops, live surgeries performed by clinicians of the team, mini pitchs and conferences by renowned clinical experts who share their experience and tips. Copy of last congress brochure (April 2022) is provided in Appendix 7. ITI scholar will be invited to attend the congress, but also to help and participate within the internal organization of the event. 
 

Language requirements: 
☒      Fluency in English 
☒      Basic language skills in French are an advantage 
 
Special requirements: 
Minimum 3 years' clinical experience. Holding a postgraduate education in periodontics or in prosthodontics is an advantage. Research experience supported by scientific publications (original papers) is desired. 
 

Scholarship Center Chair: Prof. France Lambert
Department of Periodontology, oro-dental and implant surgery
CHU of Liège, University of Liège
Domaine du Sart Tilman
B-4000 Liège

E-mail: [email protected]
www.uperio-liege.be