Expert Insights

We were very humbled to have been asked to be guest editors for Inside Dentistry's 2022 special issue on implants, which showcases various aspects of the state-of-the-art treatment modalities associated with implant dentistry. When it comes to dental implants, there is no substitute for live, hands-on surgical training. We were therefore thrilled to sit down for a Q&A with Kris Volcheck, DDS, MBA, founder and CEO of the Brighter Way Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, an entity that offers live surgical training while providing care to vulnerable adults and children, including homeless veterans.

We are also pleased to present several excellent case reports that examine various aspects of implant therapy. In a case involving a patient with high esthetic demands, Rick Ferguson, DMD, utilizes a digital workflow to assess the condition of a failing central incisor and execute a treatment plan to replace it that includes partial extraction therapy to help preserve the soft-tissue topography. In a case involving a patient with insufficient posterior mandibular bone height and volume, Craig Misch, DDS, and Maggie A. Misch-Haring, DMD, MS, employ a custom-fabricated titanium mesh combined with autologous bone, platelet rich fibrin, and collagen membranes to develop a foundation for the placement of two implants. One area in which clinicians often report the need for further education and training is elegantly covered by Ehab Moussa, DDS, MSD. Using two case reports, Moussa illustrates important clinical steps necessary to create an ideal area of attached gingiva, which is essential for long-term implant success and maintenance.

In this issue's continuing education article, Jack T. Krauser, DMD, provides an excellent overview of the use of zygomatic and pterygoid implants, which is an increasingly popular alternative to invasive bone grafting procedures. Other articles in this issue include a piece on laboratory communication for planning FP1, FP2, and FP3 prostheses by Joe "Ambrose" D'Ambrosia, a commentary on the evolution of guided implant surgery workflows, and more.

We were very fortunate to have such an excellent array of clinical experts agree to provide Inside Dentistry with insights into how to achieve success with dental implant procedures. We applaud their efforts and hope that you appreciate and enjoy their contributions.

Scott D. Ganz, DMD
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Newark, New Jersey
Co-Director
Advanced Implant Education
Private Practice
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Manhattan, New York

Isaac Tawil, DDS, MS
Fellow
International Congress of Oral Implantologists
Founder and Director
Advanced Implant Education
Private Practice
Brooklyn, New York

Robert C. Margeas, DDS
Editor-in-Chief, Inside Dentistry
Private Practice,
Des Moines, Iowa
Adjunct Professor
Department of Operative Dentistry
University of Iowa,
Iowa City, Iowa
rmargeas_eic@aegiscomm.com