History of the Osseointegration Study Club of Southern California

In March of 1985 P.I. Brånemark was operating in Long Beach, California.  Dr. Howard Davis, Richard Berger, David Hochwald, Peter Moy, Robert Fontanesi, and Roy Yanase were observing an autogenous graft from the hip with simultaneous implant fixation to the edentulous maxilla.  Professor Brånemark challenged the group to form a study club because there were so many applications of osseointegration that had yet been unexplored.  The potential applications were bounded only by one's imagination.

Mission Statement:    

The Study Club was organized to promote the maintenance and advancement of the highest standards and quality of the science and art of osseointegration through regular continuing education in cooperation with schools and other organizations.
   
To continuously evaluate the various osseointegration systems.                                       

To put to practice the highest quality of service using the best standards established by the latest research.

The first meeting was held in Torrance on March 11, 1986.  The founding members were: Dr. Oded Bahat, Richard Berger, John Beumer, Bruce Coye, Howard Davis, Robert Fontanesi, Robert Grady, David Hochwald, Alex Koper, James Kratochvil, Howard Landesman, Peter Moy, George Murrell, Michael Newman, Blair Ota, Jack Preston, John Repp (CDT), Carl Rieder, Henry Takei, Terry Tanaka, Yoshio Yamaguchi, and Roy Yanase.

By September 9, 1988, each founding member was allowed to invite one person to raise the membership to 40 active members.  The membership is intended to represent implant surgeons, restorative dentists, and dental technologists.  The expanded membership included: Baron Barnett, Fereidoun Daftary, Donald Dornan, Bernard Gantes, Robert Grady, Gary Harmatz, Wynne Hornberg, Robert London, Lawrence Lorenzi, Jay Malmquist, Baldwin Marchack, William Matoska, William Mihram, John Murrell, David Purdom, Steven Sadowski, Robert Sasaki, Peter Shaw, Mark Spector, Melvyn Wishan, Henry Yamada.

Past-presidents: Roy Yanase (1986-1991), David Hochwald (1992-3), Peter Moy (1994-5), Bruce Coye (1996-8), Howard Davis (1999-2000, Baldwin Marchack (2001-2), Henry Yamada (2003-4), and currently Robet Fontanesi (2005-6).

The Study Club meets four full meeting days per year featuring invited guest lecturers on various topics involving scientific or clinical investigation in osseointegration.  Any major implant company is given the opportunity to demonstrate the principles unique to their implant system.  There are many different principles depending on surface and texture, connecting surfaces, loading time and stress distribution, and prosthetic applications.  Although each company claims superiority, it is very obvious that different systems have different applications and restorative protocols.  It is very difficult to have universal principles applied to every implant system.

It is the goal of the study club to educate it's members, students, and guests in the surgical and restorative principles of osseointegration.  With the advancement of technology and introduction of multiple implant systems, the purpose of the study club format is to evaluate and compare the scientific evidence of the new systems with the clinical evidence of success observed in the systematic recall of patients in the private practices of its members.  Clinical, scientific investigation, and documentation are equally important in the effort to improve the esthetic and functional long-term success of implant assisted and supported dental restorations.

With continuous study, along with the sharing of experiences and knowledge, evidence based information will advance the art and science of implant dentistry.  At our 10-year anniversary meeting in 1995, P.I. Brånemark suggested starting international collaboration between study clubs.  With the organization of Osseointegration Study Club of Japan, his dream became a reality on May 17, 2002 in Tokyo, Japan.

By September 9, 1988, each founding member was allowed to invite one person to raise the membership to 40 active members.  The membership is intended to represent implant surgeons, restorative dentists, and dental technologists.  The expanded membership included: Baron Barnett, Fereidoun Daftary, Donald Dornan, Bernard Gantes, Robert Grady, Gary Harmatz, Wynne Hornberg, Robert London, Lawrence Lorenzi, Jay Malmquist, Baldwin Marchack, William Matoska, William Mihram, John Murrell, David Purdom, Steven Sadowski, Robert Sasaki, Peter Shaw, Mark Spector, Melvyn Wishan, Henry Yamada.