Lifelong learning and research for all
By Julie Mitchell, DMD, MS
How many of us read the IJOMI and IJPRD cover-to-cover when it arrives in the mail? If you have a nose for new research — or if you have found your interest waning in recent years — read on!
As a full-time private practitioner, I think back so fondly on my residency years and the engagement in inquisitive discussion within and between the departments of the dental school. We would debate healing, materials, clinical outcomes and the relevance of various publications on a daily basis. Now, my colleagues and I often spend time discussing outcomes and clinical decisions in our own practice and interesting things we find in the recent literature.
In 2023, I began my work as a member of the Academy’s Research Submissions Committee and have made some fantastic new professional connections. There is remarkable diversity on the committee in terms of training, background, current research and clinical work. Dozens of articles are submitted each summer for evaluation by the 16 members of the committee; we grade each abstract on originality, significance, relevance and quality. To qualify as a clinical study, at least 20 human subjects must be enrolled.
This past year, the Oral Scientific and Oral Clinical research presentations brought us a variety of topics: clinical presentations ranged from longitudinal peri-implant bone assessment to peri-implantitis to soft tissue esthetics. The Oral Scientific presentations brought even more variety: biodegradable and printed scaffolds, magnesium implants, and artificial intelligence applications in surgical planning. My colleagues on the committee and I had some challenging decisions to make.
The presenters are always well-prepared and eager to answer questions. Personally, I love being able to take the opportunity to ask genuine, spontaneous questions of the presenters. Knowing what it takes to conduct a scientific or clinical research study and the nuances and details that each researcher brings to the podium, to have this opportunity to engage is a true privilege.
The 2025 Oral Scientific presentation winner, Dr. Heitham Ben Amara, DMD, MSc, Ph.D., presented remarkable research on Ti and Mg implants in rat tibiae. By assessing bone-implant contact and deploying qPCR and immunohistochemistry, we were treated to a new perspective on implant composition and immunomodulation.
The 2025 Oral Clinical presentation winner, Dr. Jacob Zimmer, DMD, presented a cross-sectional study of 405 implants in 202 patients with five to 10 years of loading and explored risk factors for peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. A remarkable effort in clinical follow-up and data collection!
We congratulate the winners and commend all presenters on their willingness and diligence, and want to welcome engagement in next year’s competition on the part of both the researchers and AO Annual Meeting community.
2024 Best Presentation Awards
Best Oral Clinical Presentation:
Risk Indicators for Peri-Implant Diseases and Peri-Implantitis Severity: A Cross-Sectional Study on Implants with 5 to 10 Years of Loading
Jacob Martin Zimmer, DDS
$1000
Best Oral Scientific Presentation:
Osseointegrate and Vanish: Immunomodulation by Biodegradable Magnesium Implants Shapes Their Integration into Bone
Heithem Ben Amara, DDS, PhD
$1000
First Place ePoster Award:
Butterfly Graft: Optimizing Soft Tissue Outcomes in Adjacent Maxillary Implants Using a Digital Approach
Alexander Rubinov, DMD
$500
Second Place ePoster Award:
Comparison of Ultrasonography, CBCT, Transgingival Probing, and Probe Transparency with Histological Gingival Thickness: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study Revisiting Thick Versus Thin Gingiva
Parham Hazrati, DDS
$250
Best Case Presentation:
Vertical Ridge Augmentation Using Ceramic 3D-printed Customized Bone Block-associated rhBMP-2: A Report After Four Years Implant-supported Restoration Loading
Jamil Awad Shibli, DDS, MSc, PhD
$500
Best Clinical Innovations:
Comparison of Artificial Intelligence Models for Automatic Segmentation of the Mandibular Canals and Branches
Jinlong Shao, BDS, MSc, PhD
$1000
Best Emerging Leaders Presentation:
Full Maxillary Arch Rehabilitation by Means of a Multidisciplinary Digital Workflow Using Customized Titanium Meshes and Guided Implant Surgery
Javier Calatrava, DDS, MSC
