On to San Diego!

Dental implants have become an integral part of contemporary dental care. As implant therapy continues to expand, an important question deserves greater attention: What type of training and experience is necessary for a clinician to place dental implant safely and predictably?

More than 50 years ago, dentistry was gifted the breakthrough of osseointegration by Prof. Per-Ingvar Branemark and Prof. Andre Schroeder. This clinical “miracle,” in which living bone fuses directly to titanium, has transformed dentistry by providing solutions for bone-anchored prosthetic replacement of teeth without compromising the natural dentition. 

One of implant dentistry’s leading voices sits with Academy News to discuss his long career as both a clinician and an educator.

When people speak about Dr. P.D. Miller, they will rightly mention the titles, honors and extraordinary professional accomplishments. They will talk about his service as president of the American Academy of Periodontology, his recognition as a master clinician and the countless lectures he delivered around the world. They will remember him as one of the giants of our profession. 

As the Academy of Osseointegration looks forward to confirming Dr. Joe Kan as its incoming Board President, Academy News editor, Dr. Paul Fugazzotto joins Dr. Kan for a revealing conversation. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept into a tangible reality in health care. Implant dentistry, as one of the most technology-driven disciplines in oral health care, is entering a new digital era in which algorithms increasingly influence diagnostics, treatment planning, clinical workflows and research strategies. 

Bone regeneration in the oral and craniofacial region remains one of the most clinically demanding challengers our field faces. In my years of practice and research, I have witnessed firsthand how conditions such as tooth loss, periodontal disease, craniofacial trauma and osteonecrosis leave patients with significant bone deficits that compromise both function and quality of life. 

The AO Annual Meeting has earned a reputation as one of the world’s premier educational events in implant dentistry. Each year, it brings together internationally recognized clinicians, researchers, educators and industry leaders to share scientific advances, innovative techniques and evidence-based approaches to patient care. 

In dentistry, the true strategic objective, whether the care rendered is periodontal, implant or restorative, is to achieve and maintain a stable disease-free outcome. From the first hygiene visit that identifies risk through the final recall appointment years after active treatment concludes, the dental hygienist is the clinician most responsible for closing the gap between a successful procedure and a long-lasting result. 

We have a PCP crisis in the United States. The Bureau of Health Workforce estimates that there is a shortage of tens of thousands of PCPs and that this crisis will worsen dramatically over the next decade. Up to 7% of U.S. counties lack even a single PCP.