The Bonds That Bind

As a prosthodontist, my main focus has always been the comprehensive treatment of more complex patient situations. Over the years, however, I realized that too many dentists were using the crown for almost any kind of tooth restoration. While I do believe that full-coverage restoration has its place, it tends to be the most traumatizing intervention for the tooth and should, therefore, be the last resort—as treatment for severe tooth destruction. This is what sparked my interest in resin bonding and minimally invasive dental treatment options that may at least delay more extensive restorations.

As dentists, we are obligated to apply treatment that helps patients retain their natural teeth for as long as possible. Modern dentistry has provided us with sophisticated materials and tools to help make this possible. Materials science is nimble and adept; each time we make an improvement in how we use a material or we introduce something entirely new, we build on decades of research and innovation and make the lives of our patients better. As healthcare providers, we continue to push the boundaries of science to provide ethical and superior patient care.

When Dr. Louis Rose and the publishers of Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry asked me if I would like to be the guest editor for the annual materials issue, I didn’t hesitate. I was deeply honored to have this opportunity. I’ve been working in academic research for the past 20 years and have served on the editorial boards of many journals. This honor, in particular, is significant to me. In a world where scientific research and clinical reality seem to drift apart even further, Compendium represents a unique platform to share unbiased and clinically relevant scientific information in a manner that is appealing to the practicing dentist and the academician alike.

As the guest editor, I was tasked with identifying and inviting esteemed colleagues to share their views on the latest restorative material developments and research with the readers of Compendium. I am deeply proud of the work appearing in this issue of the journal and wish to thank the contributors for their insights and dedication to building on our knowledge of dentistry. I hope that you enjoy this issue and see how dental materials research helps shape the growing possibilities of our beloved profession.

Sincerely,
Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD

"As healthcare providers, we continue to push the boundaries of science to provide ethical and superior patient care."