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ePaper created 2017-11-09, 09:28:26 | version 1.38.0
editorial | Dr Michael Gahlert Munich/Basel ITI Fellow Focus on implantology and periodontology Ceramic implants—game changer in dental implantology Dear colleagues, A specialist magazine exclusively concentrating on ceramic implants is a highly welcomed medium of infor- mation for all dentists working in the field of implantology. Ceramic implants have been the focus of the implanto- logical community for a long time now and have reached full clinical approval by undergoing the same develop- mental stages as did titanium implants before. From 2018 on, this brand new supplement on ceramic implants will be published twice a year presenting its subject matter as a highly complex and mani-faceted topic. By doing so, it offers practitioners a unique op- portunity to exchange information based on the latest clinical and scientific findings. Against this backdrop, the fascination emanated by the “White Gold” will certainly not come up short. Being a long-term user myself I can confirm that ceramic implants do indeed polarize, and yet they also bring great pleasure to dentists and pa- tients alike, thanks to their excellent clinical results and aesthetics. It will be very exciting to see how this topic will offi- cially and academically be approached by the big sci- entific associations in the future. After an initial phase of extreme reluctance, more and more initiatives are brought forward to create scientific data around the progressive development of ceramic implants and to communicate and present those results at scientific congresses. It’s merely a matter of time before the first consensus recommendation based on evidence-driven data will be formulated for practitioners. However, in addition to those affirmative developments, inconsis- tent quality standards of systems currently available on the market are a significant problem: The production of micro-rough zirconia surfaces as well as ceramic im- plants is a rather complex venture, putting high demands on the expertise and know-how of industry partners. Ceramic implants are the last link in the chain of zirco- nium dioxide, a material that has so far positively influ- enced conservative and prosthodontic dentistry by mak- ing it largely metal-free. As a biological and metal-free alternative to titanium is now also available for the field of oral surgery, various groups of patients can henceforth be reached that previously rejected dental implants due to the ever-present titanium. If one believes the recent IDS 2017 market analyses, ceramic implants are broadly considered as implantol- ogy’s “game changer”. They will most likely take centre stage in scientific discussions at future congresses, gain further global popularity as a research topic in academic circles and increase their present market penetration of currently 0.2 per cent in 2016 to 2 per cent in 2020, and even 8 per cent in 2025. With this in mind, I wish all of those responsible for this present edition every success in implementing and es- tablishing this topic, and I am convinced that this initia- tive will be successful in its contribution to further reduce communication deficits about ceramic implants. Sincerely, Dr Michael Gahlert implants 1 2017 03