The program started with a presentation by Dr. Georges Khoury, France, on management of soft and hard tissues in the esthetic zone. The conclusion was that with proper treatment planning, surgical technique, optimal prosthetic solution and the Astra Tech Implant System, you are able to achieve excellent results with maintenance of marginal bone levels over time also in compromised cases. This was demonstrated with three different cases – a trauma, a genetic disorder and a periodontally compromised case.
The second speaker, Dr. Fernando Rojas Vizcaya, Spain, talked about how to achieve functional esthetics and soft tissue management by using Atlantis™ abutments. He demonstrated cases using different materials – zirconia, titanium and gold-shaded titanium – available for these patient-specific abutments that are designed from the final desired tooth shape. The cases showed abutment placement in different positions in the mouth, creating possibilities for individual, esthetic solutions with optimal biological and mechanical properties.
Professor Tord Berglundh, Sweden, discussed how to prevent biological complications in implant therapy by paying much more attention to supportive therapy. Currently there is an on-going debate about peri-implantitis, how and why it occurs and also what needs to be done to prevent or treat it. Professor Berglundh, an authority in the field, has recently written a manual on the long-term maintenance of implant patients. This topic created a lot of interest during his presentation at A Good Evening with Astra Tech, as well as during the discussions at the Inspirational Center.
The last speaker was Professor Tomas Albrektsson , Sweden, who held a presentation on success and failure of oral implants with particular reference to marginal bone loss. Professor Albrektsson touched upon the etiology of peri-implantitis, discussed several definitions of peri-implantitis and, pending the definition used, its actual prevalence. He pointed out that the academic community agrees that this is a problem that needs to be addressed. The opinions differ depending on whether you are a periodontist, a prosthodontist or as Professor Albrektsson himself, an expert on biomaterials, he added with a glint in his eye. He argued his point with facts, philosophical arguments and convincing energy but also admitted that there might be room for other points of view.
Finally, the moderator, Professor Jan Lindhe, Sweden, and Professor Albrektsson had an interesting, open-minded and entertaining discussion about the development of implantology over the years. They also argued, in a very inspiring and humorous way, the necessity to share and discuss different points of view within the academic community in order to secure a continuous positive evolution of implant therapy.