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ePaper created 2015-03-10, 11:16:47 | version 1.33.01
10 — issue 1/2015 Implant Dentistry Interview INTERVIEW with — Dr. Marius Steigmann Q: Dr. Steigmann, you have become one of the most reputable lecturers on dental im- plantology and esthetic dentistry. What is the philosophy underlying your success? A: The success is due to the vision I had many years ago regarding soft tissue. Im- plantologywas mostlyaboutfunction and the surrounding bone; hence, there was little interest in the soft-tissue outcome in terms of function and no interest in es- thetics. Today, most esthetic complica- tions in implant dentistry concern the soft-tissue outcome. Q: According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. alone have implants and that number is growing by 500,000 a year. What are the current concepts in implantol- ogy? In which direction is it developing? A:Implantologywasinitiallydevelopedfor the retention of dentures in the mandible and then for full-arch restoration. Nowa- days,implantsareusedforpatientsinneed of single implants too, and such cases can be predictably treated with implants. The currenttrendisinthedirectionofimplants and regeneration of bone and soft tissue to resemble the natural function and as- pects of natural teeth. Q: What are the main challenges in implan- tology today? A: The main challenge in implantologyto- day is management of complications. Therearetwokindsofcomplications:peri- implantitis,whichisaninfectionofthetis- sue surrounding the implant, and esthetic complication, which is mainly due to re- cession of the midfacial soft tissue. As these complications are relatively new, there is no predictable therapy for them yet in implant dentistry. Q: Based on yourexperience, what is thefu- ture of dental implantology? A:Ithinkthatweareseeingaphaseofcon- solidation of the therapeutic principles. The enthusiasm is slowing down. We have predictable procedures from which pa- tients benefit a great deal and procedures with a relative outcome. It will take some timeforalltherapeutic conceptsto attain the same degree of predictability. The future of implantology will be contin- uing education. Q: What do you think dental education to- day should entail? What should its main ob- jective be? A: Dental education today differs from country to country. In some countries, specialists are trained to place dental im- plants, while in other countries implants are placed bygeneral practitioners. In im- plantology, the goal of education should be to have practitioners who understand the entire treatment concept placing im- plants. Hence, education in implant den- tistry should cover surgery, bone recon- struction, mucogingival surgery for soft tissue, and prosthetic reconstruction on implants. Q: What would you describe as the overall aim of the Clinical Masters Program in Im- plant Dentistry? A:TheClinicalMastersProgramcoversall of the aspects mentioned before, taking the participant through the journey from planning to restorations with the best trainers. Q: What are your personal expectations of the program? What are you lookingforward to in particular? A: My expectations are that once they havecompletedthisprogramparticipants will be able to place and restore implants at the highest level, as well as graft bone and soft tissue predictably. Q: What do you consider the benefits of the program for both clinicians and patients? A: Mastering the skills of clinical excel- lence by learning from very experienced teachers will enable participants to treat simpletocomplicatedcasestothebenefit of the patient. Q: How does this course differfrom others? A:Thiscourseisdifferentbecauseitbrings together the best clinicians and re- searchers in the field and uses modern methodology in the teaching process. Q: One of the objectives of your course is soft-tissue management for bone augmen- tation. What is this concept about? A:Inbonegraftingprocedures,oneofthe greatest challenges is adequate coverage through soft-tissue augmentation. This problemcanonlybeovercomewithagraft with primary closure that remains closed, and teaching this is the aim of the course. “The main challenge in implantology today is management of complications.” “The future of implantology will be continuing education.”