President’s Message:
How collaborative research transforms patient care in implant dentistry
By AO Fellow and Diplomate Robert C. Vogel, DDS
Scientific research is the necessary foundation of true advancement. It’s become tempting to view technique videos on social media platforms and assume they represent sound, repeatable practice rather than mere anecdotal evidence. To ensure predictable, ideal care, bringing real science to clinical reality must be the goal.
A mission of the Academy of Osseointegration is to serve as the conduit for this transformation. By bringing together scientists, educators and clinicians, we can achieve the ultimate goal of ideal patient care. Over the past year, collaboration between AO and AAP brought together leading minds in a consensus conference led by Drs. Hom-Lay Wang and Paul Rosen, resulting in the soon-to-be published “Prevention and Management of Peri-Implant Diseases.” These current guidelines for clinical practice can be found in both IJOMI and IJPRD and made available to all.
Addressing current topics with sound science and producing clinical guidelines gives us the opportunity to provide patients longterm stability and minimize potential complications. With rapid advancements in science and technology in our profession, it is critical to continue this mission. Techniques and components we learned in training soon become outdated, and the Academy of Osseointegration is already working on a Prosthetics Summit to investigate and produce guidelines on topics such as occlusion in implant dentistry.
Between consensus conferences and summits, our revitalized Social Media Committee — thanks to Dr. Joseph Kan — led by Drs. Jayden Li, Alex Lin, Stephanie Young and Robert Levine, constantly works to review and post scientifically relevant clinical papers on the AO social media platform for all to see.
The culmination of work from our researchers, educators and world-class clinicians is on display at the AO Annual Meeting every year. This is where meticulously selected current topics and presenters provide reliable, repeatable, clinically important presentations that allow us to have the most ideal impact on our patients’ lives. In addition to leaving with knowledge that enables us to provide ideal care, we also have the opportunity to meet, share and create friendships with like-minded professionals from around the world. Also, the ability to see, touch and experience the latest products from our sponsors in real life is something not possible by scrolling at home.
So be there, become the expert in your community and have some fun, too — it’s allowed. See you March 5-7 in Washington, D.C.
