UPenn & perio research

[SeattleRDH]

I am under the impression that Penn is a leader in periodontics. Weren't some of the first implants in the country placed there? Do you think Penn provides excellent advanced training in perio for DDS students who will not be specializing but want a practice that is strong in perio?

Can DDS students get involved in perio research or is that just reserved for specialists?

Info about me: I'll be taking over my father's practice in Alaska where there are no specialists. Also, I'm an RDH now so I can jump into perio study at a higher level than the typical 1st year.

 

[yosef3]

you won't be placing any implants as a dental student at penn, but you can assist the residents in perio if you are so inclined. This just about goes for any school though. Perio is pretty big here at penn tho in terms of legacy. BU as well.

 

[armorshell]

I am under the impression that Penn is a leader in periodontics. Weren't some of the first implants in the country placed there?

As an interesting point, historically this would make no sense. When Branemark first came to this country with his new implant technology, originally the courses in their surgical placement and prosthetic restoration were only offered to prosthodontists and OMS. Perio came to the game much later.

 

[Pat Kelly]

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[SeattleRDH]

As an interesting point, historically this would make no sense. When Branemark first came to this country with his new implant technology, originally the courses in their surgical placement and prosthetic restoration were only offered to prosthodontists and OMS. Perio came to the game much later.

That makes sense. When did perio become a specialty? I assume prosths and OMFSs predate perio.

 

[mike3kgt]

As an interesting point, historically this would make no sense. When Branemark first came to this country with his new implant technology, originally the courses in their surgical placement and prosthetic restoration were only offered to prosthodontists and OMS. Perio came to the game much later.

Branemark did not invent dental implants. He pioneered osseointegration , restorative designs of the edentulous patient, and the root-form dental implant.

Dental implants were around in this country far before 1982 when Zarb and Schmitt in Toronto reported similar North American success as found with the Branemark clinic and thus launched the belief that screw-root form dental implants could become widely accepted as alternative to traditional prosthodontics and could be predictably successful on a long-term basis.

Prior to this there were many centers around N America placing subperiosteals (1948), blades (1966), ramus frames (1970), transosteal "mandibular staple", and endodontic endosteal implants (1943) etc.

Perio didn't get involved until later in the game, OSes and Prostho guys were the pioneers. I'd, however, venture to say that the endodontists were doing vitallium endodontic "implants"before periodontists and oral surgeons... i.e. 1943? (Strock AE, Strock MS. Method of reinforcing pulpless anterior teeth. J Oral Implantol. 1987;13(3):527-30. [reprint from 1943]).

Now you could argue that Branemark introduced the root form screw-type dental implant in N America. Now no-one can really argue that he is the pioneer of osseointegration and is the father of implant dentistry as we know it today. Even if I still see subperiosteals, blades, and transosteals around, the Branemark concept is still king 🙂.

Best part of the argument for all you posters that want to flame this post regarding which specialty is best for implants... Branemark is a bioengineering PhD scientist and anatomist who came up with the concept, not a dentist, who wanted to help edentulous "amputees" and cleft patients. A prosthodontic problem with a surgical approach.

 

[armorshell]

Branemark did not invent dental implants. He pioneered osseointegration , restorative designs of the edentulous patient, and the root-form dental implant.

Dental implants were around in this country far before 1982 when Zarb and Schmitt in Toronto reported similar North American success as found with the Branemark clinic and thus launched the belief that screw-root form dental implants could become widely accepted as alternative to traditional prosthodontics and could be predictably successful on a long-term basis.

Prior to this there were many centers around N America placing subperiosteals (1948), blades (1966), ramus frames (1970), transosteal "mandibular staple", and endodontic endosteal implants (1943) etc.

Perio didn't get involved until later in the game, OSes and Prostho guys were the pioneers. I'd, however, venture to say that the endodontists were doing vitallium endodontic "implants"before periodontists and oral surgeons... i.e. 1943? (Strock AE, Strock MS. Method of reinforcing pulpless anterior teeth. J Oral Implantol. 1987;13(3):527-30. [reprint from 1943]).

Now you could argue that Branemark introduced the root form screw-type dental implant in N America. Now no-one can really argue that he is the pioneer of osseointegration and is the father of implant dentistry as we know it today. Even if I still see subperiosteals, blades, and transosteals around, the Branemark concept is still king 🙂.

Best part of the argument for all you posters that want to flame this post regarding which specialty is best for implants... Branemark is a bioengineering PhD scientist and anatomist who came up with the concept, not a dentist, who wanted to help edentulous "amputees" and cleft patients. A prosthodontic problem with a surgical approach.

Of course, I should have specified I meant the modern, "Branemark-style" root form implants. Even before you mentioned, the Egyptians and Aztecs were placing endosseous implants, though probably post mortem.

Also, Branemark was an orthopedic surgeon.

As far as "who's the best", IMO historical discussions have little to do with that. The form each specialty who would lay claim to implants takes these days is almost unrecognizable from what they were in the past.

 

[Contach]

Today, I hear some endo programs are teaching implant placement too.

(Sorry to hijack the OP's topic)

Yes, you can get involved in Pero research here at Penn. Of course, you don't have the weight to be the PI, but you can find a resident, work with him/her or a faculty. Penn gives their students a lot of opportunity to do research, starting in the summer of first year where they pay you to work for 5-6 weeks. Also, there is a new Research honors program for 1st and 2nd year students. They definitely encourage you to do research at Penn and with all the research going on, it makes it pretty easy to find something to do.