In Memoriam: Myron “Ron” Nevins, DDS (1938-2025)
On December 14, 2024, Dr. Myron Nevins (center) received the Robert N. Eskow NYU Dental Implant Dentistry Award. Standing to his left is his wife, Marcy Nevins (married for 64 years), and to his right is Dr. David M. Kim.
By: David M. Kim, DDS, DMSc, Associate Professor, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
On Dec. 24, 2025, dentistry lost one of its most influential figures with the passing of Dr. Myron Nevins in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Affectionately known as “Papa Nevins” at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), Dr. Nevins devoted more than six decades to advancing clinical excellence, education and research in periodontology and implant dentistry. His legacy is defined by an extraordinary commitment to education, research and mentorship that shaped generations of clinicians and educators worldwide. Dr. Nevins earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1965 and completed his certificate in periodontics at Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry in 1967. From the outset of his career, he demonstrated an exceptional dedication to academic rigor and clinical innovation, leaving a profound and lasting impact on the profession nationally and internationally.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Nevins held numerous leadership positions, including:
- President, Osseointegration Foundation (OF)
- President, American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)
- Director, American Academy of Periodontology Foundation (AAPF)
- Director and chairman, American Board of Periodontology
- Board member, Osteology Foundation
Contributions to Global Education
Dr. Nevins began his academic career in 1967 as an associate professor at Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry. Over subsequent decades, he held faculty appointments at Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina, King Saud University and HSDM. Through these roles, he mentored numerous residents in periodontics, prosthodontics and implant dentistry—many of whom later emerged as leaders in academia, research and clinical practice worldwide.
In 1966, Dr. Nevins co-founded a private periodontal practice in Swampscott, Massachusetts, with Dr. Gerard Kramer, where he practiced until 2019. Renowned for managing complex and challenging cases, he became a referral destination for patients from across the United
States, Europe and Asia. His scholarly output includes numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, many of which remain highly cited. Of particular significance was his role as principal investigator in pivotal FDA clinical trials, which contributed to the approval of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB), biologic agents now integral to contemporary regenerative therapy.
In 1980, Dr. Nevins founded the Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. Through lectures, hands-on courses and live surgical demonstrations, the institute trained hundreds of clinicians, establishing itself as an exemplary model for advanced continuing education. Its international reach expanded through affiliated institutes in Japan and Brazil. Notably, the Japan Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (JIADS), under the leadership of Dr. Yoshihiro Ono, has trained more than 15,000 dentists, reflecting the global influence of Dr. Nevins’ educational vision.
From 1981 to 2023, Dr. Nevins served as editor-in-chief of The International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry (IJPRD), guiding the AO’s official journal to international prominence as a trusted forum for clinicians to publish real-world cases. In 2010, his son, Dr. Marc Nevins, joined him as co-editor-in-chief, continuing a tradition of editorial excellence. Additionally, from 1983 to 2022, Dr. Nevins chaired the International Symposium on Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry (ISPRD), which evolved into a landmark global meeting and a destination event for leading clinicians and academicians to exchange knowledge in Boston.
Dr. Nevins also played a central role in organizing landmark educational initiatives for the AAP, including the World Workshops on Clinical Periodontics and International Implant Conferences, which helped establish contemporary evidence-based standards in periodontics and implant dentistry. As one of the few North American periodontists personally trained by Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, he played a pivotal role in introducing and advancing dental implant therapy in North America. His collaborations with industry further contributed to major innovations, including the introduction of non-resorbable membranes for guided tissue regeneration and guided bone regeneration.
Contributions to Research
A steadfast advocate for evidence-based dentistry, Dr. Nevins founded PERIO IMP RESEARCH Inc., through which he led numerous preclinical and clinical investigations. He was widely recognized as a pioneer of proof-of-principle research, consistently emphasizing rigorous scientific validation, particularly through human histologic studies demonstrating periodontal regeneration, guided bone
regeneration and implant osseointegration.
Mentorship and Support of the Next Generation
Dr. Nevins was deeply committed to nurturing future leaders in academic dentistry. Through the AAPF, he established the Nevins Teaching and Clinical Research Fellowship and the Nevins BioHorizons Fellowship, both designed to support junior periodontal educators by alleviating financial constraints and enabling them to maintain a sustained focus on teaching and research.
Throughout the summer of 2025, Dr. Nevins remained actively engaged in mentoring residents and early-career faculty, offering guidance on career development and encouraging involvement in organized dentistry. He inspired established clinicians to give back to the profession through part-time teaching and philanthropic support of organizations such as the OF and the AAPF.
Legacy and Remembrance
Dr. Myron Nevins will be remembered as an exceptional figure in dentistry—a global educator, master clinician, pioneer in clinical research and, above all, a mentor and father figure to countless students and colleagues. Even as he approached an age when many contemplate retirement, he continued to challenge and inspire the next generation, shaping the future of the profession with unwavering dedication. Dentistry was never merely his profession; it was his lifelong calling. We remain committed to upholding the excellence that Dr. Myron Nevins demonstrated in every aspect of his life and instilled in us. We are grateful for the sometimes brief and sometimes lengthy, yet always meaningful and lifechanging conversations many of us shared.
