Dear Readers,

It is with great pride that we welcome you to the inaugural issue of Collaborative Care. This supplement series to Inside Dentistry is the progeny of the forward-looking members of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), who have recognized a need for enhanced communication among oral healthcare practitioners to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

In a peer-reviewed format, Collaborative Care will provide a continuing education article and clinical content that illustrates techniques, procedures, and case management plans designed to continue the AAP’s efforts to provide constructive information for general dentists about the value and benefit of partnering with their periodontal colleagues. Our first issue highlights dental implants in the esthetic zone. Dr. Wang’s continuing education article discusses site preparation for esthetic zone implants, focusing on ridge preservation and augmentation techniques. Dr. Chu’s case demonstrates treatment strategies for rectifying the loss of interdental papilla—one of the greatest esthetic zone challenges facing the dental team. Dr. Lee’s case rounds out the issue by examining the rationale, techniques, and evidence for immediate implant placement and provisionalization for single-tooth applications.

We would like to thank the AAP for being the motivating force behind this publication and the larger call to collaboration, and our corporate sponsors, who have generously recognized the importance of this endeavor. We hope this platform will continue the work of increasing and elevating communication among oral healthcare professionals, as such open avenues are paths by which the entire profession moves forward.

Warm regards,

Gerard Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
gkugel@aegiscomm.com
Inside Dentistry

Associate Dean for Research
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts