“Oral health is awesome. We can take people from nearly any state to their ideal state,” said Dr. Mark Ludlow during his presentation at last Friday’s Virginia Implant Excellence Week Symposium. His comment underscored the possibilities associated with restorative dentistry as well as the aspirations of the first-annual event held by VCU School of Dentistry, which sought to elevate the quality of dentistry to benefit residents throughout the commonwealth.  

“VIEW reflects our obligation as Virginia’s only dental school in ensuring oral health professionals throughout the commonwealth are knowledgeable of the best and newest technologies and skills. This is how we affirm the better care of our patients,” said VCU School of Dentistry Dean Dr. Lyndon Cooper. 

Friday’s symposium at the Westin Hotel was attended by more than 150 oral health professionals from across Virginia. It featured nationally renowned experts in implant dentistry, who discussed everything from clinical care and digital workflows to implant materials and practice management. 

“It's pretty cool to learn not only about one scope of dentistry,” said Dr. Wael Zakkour, a prosthodontist at Thomson Drive Dental in Lynchburg, VA. “The last lecture was nothing about inside the mouth, it was all about the practice, the management, the business. Another one was about the dental lab, more or less the digital side. The surgeries, the implants–that diversity in one event is priceless.” 

While Friday’s symposium was the main event, activities had already begun with lunch-and-learn presentations and other educational endeavors occurring at VCU School of Dentistry throughout the week. 

“Our students have a unique opportunity to practice implant dentistry at a level many others don’t due to our thriving predoctoral clinic and the expertise available in our various residency programs. In addition to engaging our colleagues in the community, we wanted VIEW to provide unique learning opportunities that our students can apply during their education,” said Dr. Karen McAndrew, associate professor and director of implant dentistry at VCU School of Dentistry, who spearheaded much of the planning efforts with Dean Cooper. 

Throughout the week, faculty experts in periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery and prosthodontics discussed a variety of advanced techniques and complex implant cases. The week even featured an implant-themed scavenger hunt hosted by the Department of Periodontics, where participants learned about implant dentistry, solved riddles, and gathered implant-related items.

“Virginia Implant Excellence Week exceeded our expectations, and we’re already looking forward to next year,” said Cooper. “I’d like to thank all of our participants for engaging with us throughout the week, as well as everyone who devoted their valuable time and energy to make our vision a reality.”

View more pictures from VIEW on VCU School of Dentistry’s Flickr account, and stay tuned for details on next year’s Virginia Implant Excellence Week.