What does it really take to treat the severely atrophic maxilla – without grafting?

In this Straumann® ProTalk episode, Prof. Dr. Ed Bedrossian shares over three decades of experience in implantology, from placing his first zygomatic implant in 1995 to helping shape graftless treatment concepts.

He explains the biomechanics behind long-term success, why clinicians must always ask "why", and how to balance fundamentals with emerging digital workflows.

From being mentored by Per-Ingvar Brånemark to collaborating with his son today, this episode is a deep dive into mindset, decision-making, and the future of implant dentistry.

🎧 A must-listen for anyone working with complex implant cases.

00:00 Why mindset matters in implant dentistry
03:45 The journey into implantology
12:10 Mentorship with Brånemark
17:30 Classifications: zones and ZAGA
20:00 Biomechanics that drive success
26:40 "Immediacy" and case selection
36:30 Digital workflows: promise vs reality
49:50 What makes a great surgeon

In this episode of Straumann ProTalk, Prof. Dr. Bilal Al-Nawas joins George Raeber and Andreas Utz to explore complex implant reconstructions – from tumor and atrophic cases to treating a 90-year-old patient with a subperiosteal implant under local anesthesia. He unpacks the comeback of subperiosteal implants in the digital era, compares them with zygomatic approaches, and highlights the importance of managing complications with a self-critical mindset.

00:00 Leadership and introduction
02:06 Bilal's background and OMS perspective
06:30 Complex cases in Mainz
09:39 Elderly reconstruction case
11:54 Subperiosteal implant comeback
15:38 Zygomatic vs subperiosteal implants
18:05 Complications and long-term learnings
24:42 Leadership and clinical mindset
28:42 Digital dentistry and future innovations
34:52 ITI, education, and final insights

In this Straumann ProTalk, Prof. Dr. Samir Abou-Ayash explains why dentistry is medicine - directly linked to systemic health, immunity, and wellbeing through oral function like chewing and breathing.

He shares key insights from ITI Consensus 2023 on patient-reported outcomes, oral function, and chewing efficiency, including why overdentures can match fixed full-arch results. The episode also explores implant care in aging patients and how digital dentistry - from intraoral scanners to scannable healing abutments - is transforming workflows, while challenges like fragmented systems continue to slow adoption.

00:00 Why dentistry is medicine

06:00 Research that improves patient outcomes

21:40 ITI findings: PROMs and chewing efficiency

27:40 Implants in aging patients

31:20 Overdentures vs fixed solutions

36:30 Digital dentistry game changers

42:30 Barriers to digital workflow adoption

48:30 Engaging the next generation

59:20 Key takeaways