Dental implant success depends on several critical factors, including surgical precision, patient-specific planning, a high level of clinical knowledge and skill, and the quality of both the materials used and the provider’s expertise. Dental Depot’s partnership with Implant Direct enhances the dental implant experience through a combination of advanced technology, expert training, and high-quality materials. Doctors like Dr. Scott Kooken and Dr. Priyanka Kulkarni—both highly trained through Implant Direct’s continuing education programs—serve as mentors within the Dental Depot network, helping elevate the standard of care across all locations with streamlined procedures, predictable outcomes, and expanded in-office capabilities that allow more patients to receive complete implant care from the same trusted provider.
For more than 20 years, Dental Depot has been committed to offering patients exceptional care through trusted partnerships and innovative solutions. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Implant Direct, a leading dental implant manufacturer known for its high-quality materials and proven success. This partnership allows our providers to deliver durable, affordable, and efficient dental implant options—backed by industry-leading research and precision engineering. With Implant Direct, Dental Depot patients benefit from advanced tooth replacement solutions that not only restore function and aesthetics but also support long-term oral health. It’s just another way Dental Depot ensures every patient receives the reliable, commonsense care they can count on.
Partnering with Implant Direct offers dental providers a wide range of benefits that support clinical success, efficiency, and long-term growth. With a diverse selection of implant designs tailored to different bone densities and patient needs, clinicians can confidently choose the most appropriate solution for each case. Moreover, Implant Direct’s focus on usability and simplicity streamlines surgical workflows, reducing complexity and chair time without sacrificing quality, and their products meet the industry’s highest standards for safety and performance—providing peace of mind for both dentists and their patients.
Beyond innovative implant systems and tools, Implant Direct is deeply invested in provider success through extensive training, progressive education, and professional development. From foundational courses to advanced surgical techniques, digital workflows, and complex case management, Implant Direct empowers clinicians at every stage of their implantology journey. Their supportive community, mentorship opportunities, and knowledgeable customer service team help build clinician confidence and improve patient access to high-quality care.
Implant Direct’s approach fits squarely within Dental Depot’s mission of providing exceptional, affordable dental care through professional collaboration. In addition to the multiple layers of peer support already implemented at Dental Depot, Implant Direct’s continuing education program has also proven to be a valuable force multiplier for Dr. Scott Kooken of Tulsa Hills and Dr. Priyanka Kulkarni of Arlington, who both serve as mentors and trainers for other dentists performing dental implants.
Soon after starting with Dental Depot in 2019, Dr. Kooken attended his first Implant Direct training, opened his own clinic in Tulsa Hills, and began serving as the regional mentor for Dental Depot clinics in and around the Tulsa area. In addition to teaching and taking 6-10 hours of continuing education courses each year, Dr. Kooken is among the top dental implant providers in Oklahoma, performing 30-50 dental implant procedures a year, the most in the region and the Dental Depot network.
In 2020, Dr. Kulkarni was one of 10 general dentists selected by the Dental Depot leadership team to receive Implant Direct’s advanced training for dental implants, becoming one of the first—and one of the first women—to begin performing dental implants for the company. Since then, she has continued to expand her knowledge and her expertise in dental implants, taking an average of 16 hours of continuing education from Implant Direct every year to learn advanced skills like bone grafting, and become one of Dental Depot’s doctor mentors for complex restorations.
Both Dr. Kooken and Dr. Kulkarni are quick to recognize the senior Dental Depot doctors who guided them. Now, as doctor mentors themselves, they are able to provide one-on-one, in-office support and guidance to other dentists across the spectrum of dental implant experience, from new dentists planning their first procedure to more seasoned doctors looking to improve their skills. Whether they’re offering a second set of eyes on a placement plan or standing beside a doctor during the actual procedure, doctors like Dr. Kooken and Dr. Kulkarni are continuing the Dental Depot legacy of providing the highest level of quality care to their patients.
Working with Implant Direct gives Dental Depot and its doctors unlimited one-on-one support from some of the most experienced specialists in the industry, as well as access to some of the best products and technology available.
What this means for Dental Depot patients is a wealth of benefits in everything from product quality and customization to streamlined processes and better, more predictable outcomes.
Implant Direct’s dental implants are made from medical-grade biocompatible titanium, ensuring strength and longevity. When combined with Dental Depot’s advanced technology and expertise, patients receive reliable and long-lasting tooth replacement solutions.
Unlike other clinics that may only use x-rays to plan implant placement, Dental Depot uses advanced imaging technology like the iTero Element Intraoral Scanner and 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), which offer more precise and nearly instantaneous visualization of the oral structures. This, along with Implant Direct’s user-friendly implant systems, enhances the accuracy of implant placement, leading to more predictable and successful outcomes for more patients.
For Dr. Kooken, this also makes it easier to learn and teach the skills necessary to successfully treat all types of cases. “Implant Direct uses a very organized and standardized system that essentially serves a playbook, breaking down every part of the implant procedure from how to conduct an osteotomy [preparing the bone for implant placement] to troubleshooting different types of bone.”
Dental Depot’s multidisciplinary team includes experienced prosthodontists, oral surgeons, and general dentists who specialize in dental prosthetics. Their collaboration with Implant Direct—through continuing education and training and hands-on, one-on-one guidance from dedicated representatives and a strong clinical support network—ensures they are well-equipped with the latest techniques and best practices in implant dentistry.
“We have a great relationship with our representative, and any time we need to get in touch with him, he’s there to help,” says Dr. Kooken. “
Dr. Kulkarni agrees, adding the wealth of information available to doctors. “[Implant Direct] has so much knowledge to help guide you through the process, and, as members, we doctors get access to all of that.”
Implant Direct offers a diverse range of implant designs tailored to various patient needs and bone densities, providing flexible solutions for everything from single-tooth restorations and implant-supported dentures to full-arch procedures. This variety, along with skill and experience in procedures like zygomatic implants, the Prettau Bridge, and all-on-4 dental implants, allows Dental Depot to provide personalized treatment plans that make dental implants a viable option for people who may not have been considered candidates in the past.
“When you’re a dentist, you want to be able to offer patients good options,” explains Dr. Kooken. “If I didn’t know how to place implants, I’d be doing my patients a disservice, because implants are a big improvement over other tooth restorations options, especially for single-tooth cases or patients looking for something other than dentures.”
The intuitive design of Implant Direct’s standardized surgical kits, combined with the program’s methodical, hands-on approach and Dental Depot’s in-house capabilities, simplifies the implant procedure for both doctors and patients. This integration reduces surgical time and complexity and improves results, providing a more comfortable and efficient experience for patients.
“Since we all have the same system and inventory, work with the same lab, and have access to this advanced technology and support network, the whole process is so much easier and smoother,” Dr. Kooken says. “It’s easy to identify and get what we need.”
Through continuous collaboration and training opportunities with Implant Direct, Dental Depot’s clinicians enhance their skills in advanced implant techniques and complex case management. This ongoing professional development translates to a broader range of services available to patients, allowing doctors to both refine existing skills and master new procedures so they can continue to offer more and better options to more people.
By working with Implant Direct, the dentists at Dental Depot can stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in dental technology, treatment methods, and research, enabling them to provide a high quality of care while maintaining their professional competency in a rapidly evolving field.
“Every dentist learns how to do dental implants,” explains Dr. Kulkarni, “but it isn’t a speciality. The only way to get better at dental implants is by doing them, and Implant Direct’s training helps us build a good foundation of basic principles, grow our confidence, and increase our level of skill, so we can handle more complex cases like anterior implants, bone grafting, full arch rehabilitation, and more.”
The partnership between Implant Direct and Dental Depot ensures the seamless integration of implant solutions within Dental Depot’s comprehensive dental services, which also include oral surgery and prosthodontics. Patients can stay with the same doctor and the same clinic not just for their basic dental care needs, but for every step of the implant process.
“With Implant Direct, our patients don’t have to go to five different doctors to get one tooth fixed,” Dr. Kulkarni emphasizes, referring to doctors who may not have the time, experience, or resources to provide the advanced care required for tooth restoration. “At Dental Depot, we can make tooth restoration just as accessible, available, and convenient as all of our other dental services.”
When placed by experienced and well-trained experts, dental implants can be truly life-changing, restoring not just your smile but your confidence, comfort, and quality of life. At Dental Depot, the advanced hands-on training and unparalleled clinical support our doctors like Dr. Kooken and Dr. Kulkarni receive from Implant Direct helps ensure safe, precise, and personalized implant care for our patients, no matter what their needs are. What’s more, your care is further elevated by the collaborative efforts of our in-house team of general dentists, prosthodontists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists, all of whom are dedicated to delivering the best, most comprehensive care possible, and all at the same convenient and familiar location.
If you are considering dental implants, trust the experience and expertise of Dental Depot. Schedule a consultation today and find out how we can give you a smile you finally love to show off.
