xiv Preface

implant—the majority of our later attempts have been successful. In those later cases where failure resulted, it was not because of basic flaws in the concept of an endosseous implant procedure but be-cause of overenthusiasm in attempting an intervention. But from our mistakes, we have learned.

This book is a synthesis of my experiences in the field of implantology. It describes several techniques that are successful because they have been carefully designed to be compatible with the laws of nature. It explores the reasons why an implant succeeds or fails, from both operatory and physiologic viewpoints. It prepares the reader for the kind of experience that can be gained only through actual clinical work. It tells the individual operator why the procedures should work; his own experiences based on a thorough understanding of the factors involved will finally prove that they do work.

I sincerely feel that this book is important be-cause the information herein explores what an ever-increasing number of operators is proving is the modern miracle in dentistry.

I wish to express my appreciation to all those people who contributed so unselfishly in one way or another to the preparation of this volume by providing information, suggestions, and constructive criticism. I also wish to express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to all those who gave me my start in the field of oral implantology by allowing me to bring forth my acquired knowledge in the field.

I wish, therefore, to give special thanks to Dr. Myron M. Lieb, Director of the Institute for Graduate Dentists, for expressing faith in me by allowing me to teach implantology while it was still in its early development. Many thanks to Dr. Harry M. Worth and Dr. Surindar N. Bhaskar for unselfishly contributing numerous roentgenograms on bone diseases, which are so important for the added success of this book. To Dr. George Greene, Jr., I extend my appreciation for his reading of and constructive comments on the histology chapter.

To Dr. Al Edelman, for his early cooperation and hard work in manufacturing my various-shaped prototype vent-plants and screws and the various instruments necessary for their insertion, I give my gratitude. I wish to thank Mr. Al Taylor for processing according to my specifications the many photographs that appear in this book. To Jack Wimmer and Abe Liwerent of Park Dental Research, I extend thanks for their cooperation in maintaining the designs and quality of blade implants at the highest standards. To Eric Bausch of Howmedica, sincere thanks for his pioneering efforts from the very beginning in the field of oral implantology.

To Dr. Jack Leonard Weiss, who has been a friend and advisor in so many ways, I wish to express my deep gratitude. His knowledge in many facets of dentistry has enlightened me considerably. To my dear friends, Dr. Giordano Muratori, Dr. Paul Glass-man, Dr. Norman Mulnick, Dr. Ronald Cullen, and Dr. Hans Graffelmann, thanks for having enough faith and confidence in me during many frustrating years, and for listening to what I had to say.

To Dr. Frank Celenza, a true friend in need, who placed his own highly regarded reputation of dental gnathology on the line to back up my principles and philosophies in front of many outstanding dental organizations, thanks from the bottom of my heart.

To my staff of wonderful and hard-working nurses, Phyllis Athenson, Virginia Edwards, Yetta Goldberg, Karen Fishman, Nancy Levene, and Marilyn Berger, I wish to also express my thanks for cooperating with me during the hard times I gave them.

A very special thanks to my secretary and Girl Friday, Evelyn Gruber, whose hard work enabled the publication of this volume. The typing of the manuscript and correspondence with countless numbers of contributing dentists, companies, and so on could not have been done without her.

I wish to thank Bob Bosworth and Joe Andino, my two dental technologists who have been devoted to me for the past 5 years, from the bottom of my heart for helping me pioneer the field of implantology. Without them and their wonderful work it could not have been as easy.

To Maureen Jones, for the excellent work in editing my manuscript which required revision and condensation to make it readily understood, I am eternally grateful.

Last, but certainly not least, to my family; my mother and father, thanks for being such wonderful and understanding parents, and for those fruitful years of teaching me right from wrong. To my wife, Jean, who typed countless numbers of the earlier drafts of the book over and over again and who had to cooperate and sacrifice according to my many moods during the 5%2 long years of preparation for this book, thank you. To my wonderful daughters Robin, Sheree, and Shelley I want to say, stay as sweet as you are.

Leonard I. Linkow, E.S., D.D.S., F.A.G.D.