Introduction and Comment
Implants Have Arrived in California
Allan C. Jones, DDS
Copyright 2001 Journal of the California Dental Association.
"Implants Have Arrived in California" was chosen for the thematic
title to this issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association
because of its double meaning. Dental implants conforming to the Swedish
concept of osseointegration came to California quietly and profoundly.
In the sense that this technology came to our shores from foreign origins,
dental implants have indeed "arrived" in a physical sense.
Osseointegrated implants did not come to us through our own traditional resources -- the beloved institutions that house the mentors to whom we have always looked for the truth in matters of dentistry. This is why many who read this issue may not be fully aware of what has transpired with regard to implant development. The first implant invasion was carried out by the Swedes, soon after came the Germans and the Swiss. They targeted a receptive group of dental specialists -- prosthodontists and oral surgeons -- who have long been vexed by the failures of conventional dentistry. As a result, some were induced to go abroad for implant training, as it was available in only those countries in which the science originated. Gradually, the dogmatic prescriptions of the originating Swede, P.I. Brånemark, were made available at carefully selected sources throughout the world. Today, the transformation is complete. These specialist-disciples, -- having examined and utilized the process for some 15 years -- are unequivocally convinced of the efficacy of osseointegrated implants. These dentists have set the standard for all who practice dentistry, and thus dental implants are now the preferred method for tooth replacement in many situations that were formerly the province of traditional prosthodontics. Implants have, therefore, "arrived" in a more profound sense; implants, as used for implant-borne tooth replacements, are now acceptable for use by all dentists, not just dental specialists.
There has been a subtle transformation in dental implant technology that makes its use appropriate for dentists in general practice. The complexity of dental implant therapy has been reduced so that it can readily be used by those dentists with common restorative skills. That is, contemporary osseointegrated dental implant therapy is well within the capability of all who practice general dentistry in this trend-setting state of California. This is the underlying theme of this November 2001 edition of the Journal of the California Dental Association.
This issue begins with a history of osseointegration and its application to dental implants, by Richard Sullivan. His firm is the immediate descendant of the company that brought osseointegration to the United States. His comprehensive article recounts the history that validates this technology. This issue closes with a legal opinion by Art Curley, an attorney frequently engaged in defending dentists who are accused of malpractice. His article makes the case that implants are an accepted, if not a required, method of tooth replacement when viewed from the perspective of jurisprudence. In between are articles that will inform the reader about a variety of aspects of implants such as the current status of dental education regarding dental implants, by Perry Klokkevold; where experienced dentists may gain the knowledge essential to providing implants, by Nicholas Caplanis; treatment planning, by Belinda Gregory-Head; clinical rationale, by Rick Rounsavelle; the limitations of conventional prostheses, by David Felton; and an interview with Mel Schwarz, one of California’s most influential implantologists, by Steve Gold. These articles define an achievable standard in the use of osseointegrated implants for all dental practices in California.
I am a general dentist who has been involved with osseointegration since its earliest days in California. The privilege of creating an issue of the Journal was accorded to me by one of my former students, Steve Gold, the associate editor of the CDA Journal. He asked me to create an issue that would be helpful to dentists who have not yet begun to offer dental implants to their patients. He is, like many who have graduated from our best institutions, without a defining dental school foundation in this area. Even though he is a recent graduate, his status is typical of many good dentists who are still wondering what they must know about dental implants.
The authors represent the best in implantology theory and practice. In spite of my limited purview, I believe that this issue will give the uninitiated a foundation of knowledge for the appropriate application of dental implant technology in their dental practices.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the authors. This issue has required a lot of work and, most generously, a lot of time. On a final note, this issue is also the result of the efforts of my devoted office staff and, in particular, Chris Perez, RDA. I thank them for their many hours of effort outside of their usual job descriptions.
Contributing Editor
Allan C. Jones, DDS, is a general dentist in Torrance, Calif.
