AO’s Japan Charter Chapter holds second meeting

Dr. Takashi Sumi, Japanese ambassador of the Academy of Osseointegration (AO), earlier this month organized the second meeting of AO’s Japan Charter Chapter. The chapter’s inaugural event was held in 2015.

The meeting was a great opportunity for Japanese dentists, technicians and hygienists, who are responsible for the next generation of implant therapy, to present their world-class treatment skills and technologies.

The two-day conference, titled “AO – Into the Next Generation,” was divided into four sessions. These included managing anterior aesthetics, a surgical track, hard and soft tissue management, and digital solutions, which were comprised of 17 of the best speakers in Japan.

Also on the docket were two AO speakers from overseas, including AO President Dr. Michael Norton and Dr. Stephen Jacobs, chair of AO’s Global Program Development Committee.

“The meeting was a great success thanks to the dedication and hard work of AO Ambassador Dr. Takashi Sumi. The meeting focused on the younger generation of dentists and included two young hygienists who presented to the conference,” says Dr. Norton. “This was therefore a very forward thinking program. The quality of the lectures was of the highest standard with some superb clinical work on show through equally magnificent clinical photography and PowerPoint presentations.”

“The purpose of this meeting was to help young dentists in Japan get to know AO. Under the umbrella of AO, top Japanese clinicians appealed to the nearly 360 attendees that science is necessary for medical treatment,” says Dr. Sumi. “It was obvious they were excited. I think the next meeting will be attended by many new members.”

As part of the program Dr. Jacobs, who also serves on AO’s certificate and fellowship committee, presented “Good Morning with AO,” where he explained the new AO Certificate in Implant Dentistry and how members can apply. The AO Certificate is an award for members who can demonstrate knowledge, education and experience in implant dentistry. Dr. Jacobs explained how this honor is achievable for most AO members and how to go about it.

Osseointegrated dental implants were first introduced to Japan in the 1980s. In the past three decades, scientific research and clinical applications of dental implants in Japan have shown amazing advancements.

Today, more and more clinicians and researchers in implant therapy and tissue engineering are playing active roles in international scientific programs as speakers. Many of Japan’s young colleagues are also proactively joining overseas training courses, which is a good indicator of advancing internationalization in the area of dental implantology.

Dr. Norton concludes, “Certainly, this meeting was worthy of being under the AO flag. I was also very encouraged by the enthusiasm in the room shown for AO’s 2018 Annual Meeting (to be held Feb. 28 to March 3, 2018, in Los Angeles). We look forward to welcoming many Japanese colleagues to LA!”