Q&A

Q: Professor Nevins, the scientific program of the 2016 Osteology Symposium with its motto – Learning the "Why" and the "How" in regenerative therapy – addresses the many open questions that dentists still face in everyday work in the practice. Which are the most important questions in oral regeneration to be discussed in Monaco?

Myron Nevins: “All regenerative procedures require surgical skills, knowledge of the appropriate steps and the use of biomaterials that have proven to be successful. It is important that clinicians and practitioners not only understand the basics, but also hear about the latest developments and techniques in oral regeneration. With the International Osteology Symposium, we aim to provide this information, as well as answering as many open questions as possible.”

Q: The programme covers a broad range of topics in oral regeneration, which are especially important to you? 

Myron Nevins: “I would like to point out the two interactive sessions we have organised for Osteology Monaco. On Friday the focus will be on decision making after tooth extraction, the second session on Saturday is about treatment of demanding gingival recessions – two very important topics for practitioners. We have invited renowned experts to discuss these topics and provide answers to questions regarding indications, surgical techniques, tips and tricks. Questions can be submitted in advance, but the audience is also welcome to ask during the session.”

Q: One topic of the scientific programme is “teeth for a lifetime”. What does this involve?

Myron Nevins: “Keeping one’s teeth all life-long means never becoming edentulous. This can be accomplished predictably with the patients’ natural dentition or by supplementing with implants. But in this session we will focus on the preservation of the patient’s own teeth, i.e. how we can preserve periodontally compromised teeth, how regenerative therapies improve tooth prognosis, as well as the advances and limitations in treating furcation defects.”

Q: An extensive poster exhibition and a research forum will present the latest results in basic and clinical research. How important are these results from research for the practitioner?

Myron Nevins: “It is necessary to first perform pre-clinical research that can then be translated into clinical research to then be applied in practice for the patient’s benefit. This process takes a significant period of time and has to clear regulatory hurdles. At the Osteology Symposium in Monaco a platform is provided for researchers to present and discuss their results with other researchers on the one hand, but also to encourage the exchange between scientists and practitioners, on the other, which is important for both groups working hand-in-hand towards the same goal: to provide optimal treatment for patients.”

Q: If your colleagues ask you why they should attend Osteology Monaco, what do you tell them?

Myron Nevins: “Dentists should attend Osteology Monaco to help provide better treatment for their patients by learning about the latest developments in oral regeneration, through discussions and interaction with their colleagues.”