INTRODUCTION

It is both refreshing and gratifying to push the vistas of human knowledge and its benefits forward. Yet the transplanting of ideas presupposes mental readiness on the part of a profession and its practitioners to assimilate ideas and incorporate them into practice. This is particularly so with regard to dentistry and its implications for the well-being of society.

Since professional advance, like human progress, is slow, there is the further implication that inertia is overcome only with great effort. There is, of course, intellectual curiosity aimed at higher levels of knowledge and achievement which must be interspersed with scientific caution, but hopefully geared to human service.

Implantology has certainly seized the imagination of our profession. It has also, unfortunately, created temptation for some of our colleagues to proclaim proficiency after attending short introductory courses or several lectures. We must be cognizant of the fact that great scientific spurts contain negative counterparts and possible dangers.

Implantology further sharpens our focus on the responsibility of our profession to preserve natural teeth, minimal as they may be, and at any cost in effort, knowledge, and skill. The signs of omission and commission of the dental profession with regard to adequate care and safeguards for the restorative facets of dentistry are well reflected in the reception now afforded in this new modality of implantology.

It is my strong feeling that dental progress has been brought forward by a combination of professional integrity, thoughtful proficiency, imagination, and courageous innovative skills. Because of my esteem and admiration for Dr. Leonard Linkow, I am delighted to express my commendation for his contribution in this specialty. This text should do much to clear the confusion and augurs well for the future of implantology and the benefit to the health and comfort of our patients.

I. Franklin Miller, B.S., M.A., D.D.S., F.I.C.D., F.A.G.D.

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