The Academy of Osseointegration (AO) recently concluded a three-day scientific workshop addressing the issues of dental implant healing and force mechanics, inflammation and mucosal healing.
The invitation-only event attracted nearly 70 AO members across dental disciplines from around the globe, and representatives from other professional member dental organizations, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP).
Chaired by Dr. Clark M. Stanford, AO vice president, and distinguished professor and dean, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, a driving question behind the purpose of the Summit, held August 8 – 10, 2018 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook, IL, was to find out if there may be elevated risk factors attributable to local or systemic issues, as recent literature suggests.
“As more clinical experience is obtained from oral implants having been in patients’ mouths longer, either because they were in place for many years or because patients are literally living longer, we are seeing late-term complications that need to be considered,” said Dr. Stanford.
Participants discussed three questions for the Summit, each researched and presented by one of three work groups. Framed around outcomes or impact on long-term osseointegration, the questions addressed: Primary Stability and Osseointegration (OI) by Group 1; Inflammation and OI (by Group 2); and Systemic Health, Medications and OI (Group 3).
Leading the groups were chairs Drs. John B. Brunski (Biomaterial/Bioengineering), Stanford, CA (Group 1); Joseph P. Fiorellini (AO director and periodontist), Philadelphia, PA (Group 2); and Tara L. Aghaloo (AO secretary, oral and maxillofacial surgeon), Los Angeles, CA (Group 3).
After meeting during their respective breakout sessions, each of the chairs provided an overview of their group’s outcomes, arranged for a 60-minute plenary presenter and a clinical presentation for the entire audience. A moderated and dynamic discussion followed the plenary speakers and the clinical case presentations.
The plenary presenters were Drs. D. Rick Sumner, Mary Lou Bell McGrew Presidential Professor for Medical Research and chair of the Department of Cell and Molecular Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago (for Group 1); Flavia Teles, associate professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Group 2); and Susan Bukata, orthopedic surgeon, Ronald Reagan University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Santa Monica, CA (Group 3).
Other members of the 2018 Summit planning/steering committee included: Drs. Lyndon F. Cooper (prosthodontist), Chicago; AO Vice President Jay P. Malmquist (oral and maxillofacial surgeon), Portland, OR; and Homayoun H. Zadeh (periodontist), Los Angeles, CA.
Case presentations were provided by AO immediate past president Dr. Michael Norton (London, England) for Group 1, and Drs. Hector Sarmiento (New York, NY) for group 2, and Joan Pi-Anfruns (Los Angeles, CA), group 3.
Results of this Summit, including three position papers (one authored by each of the work groups on their respective topic) are anticipated to be published in 2019 as a special edition of the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants (JOMI) – the official journal of AO.
Since 1996, AO has organized scientific summits on a quadrennial basis to assess many of the clinical and evidence-based areas of advancement in implant dentistry. Prior to this year’s Summit, AO held “Current Best Evidence for Management of the Edentulous Maxilla” in 2014, also chaired by Dr. Stanford. Information about AO’s previous Summits is available via its website, osseo.org.
About Academy of Osseointegration
With nearly 6,000 members in 70 countries around the world, AO is recognized as the premier international association for professionals interested in implant dentistry. AO serves as a nexus where specialists and generalists can come together to evaluate emerging research, technology, and techniques; share best information; and coordinate optimal patient care using timely, evidence-based science and methods. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AcademyOsseo.
