A $6.2 million contract between the Medical College of Georgia and Nobel Biocare, a leading manufacturer of dental implants and equipment, will strengthen the school’s educational and research mission, school officials say.

Of the contract total, $4.2 million will be funneled through the School of Dentistry to fund programs including educational enrichment workshops and clinical research trials. Another $2 million will be used by MCG’s Visual and Instructional Design Services to create a digitally based educational program for international distribution.

The contract also will establish the school as a Nobel Biocare Center of Excellence.

Dr. Roman M. Cibirka, associate provost and vice president for instruction, and Dr. Carol A. Lefebvre, associate dean for strategic initiatives and faculty development in the School of Dentistry, will serve as center co-directors.

“This generous educational contract between Nobel Biocare and MCG will enable us to make one of the most important curriculum changes in the history of the school,” said Connie Drisko, Merritt professor and dean of the School of Dentistry. “Our new five-year contract with this world-renowned company will move the school to a new level of excellence in research, education and patient care. Nobel Biocare was the first implant company in the world to bring innovative reconstructive products to the dental profession. Because of its generosity, our students and residents will have access to the latest technology and cutting-edge treatment for their patients, both now and in their future practices.”

“Nobel Biocare is determined that undergraduate programs for dentists include the newest treatment solutions like implants and all ceramic restorations,” said Heliane Canepa, president and CEO of Nobel Biocare. “As the world leader, it is our duty to support educational institutions so that they can provide the best education for their students, ultimately for the benefit of the patient. To be able to secure future development, it is also necessary to support research, both clinical and basic research.”

The contract comes on the heels of the school’s new Comprehensive Care Clinic.

“This has been a landmark year for the School of Dentistry,” said MCG President Daniel W. Rahn. “This contract reflects the confidence that industry leaders have in our dental school’s students, faculty and educational programs. It will be a significant benefit to the school as it expands its educational, research and clinical mission.”

Of the allotted funds, which will be disbursed over five years, $1.4 million will be for in-kind services.

“For example, the implementation of the new Comprehensive Care Clinic will allow predoctoral dental students to place implants, which they’ve never been able to do before,” said Dr.  Lefebvre. “Students will also be providing more all-ceramic restorations for their patients. The implant components and equipment needed to do those types of procedures will be supplied by Nobel.”

Another $1.5 million will be used for clinical support personnel, including a master laboratory technician to make all-ceramic restorations. It also includes support for clinicians who will make presentations in an Indications-Based Treatment Solutions Series for students practicing in the Comprehensive Care Clinic.

“The series will feature master clinicians who will be on hand to relate their real-world experiences with various treatments to our students,” Dr. Lefebvre said. “The contract will also allow the  school to develop a program to track students after they graduate and determine the effect of  dental school training on their future practices.”

Another $1 million will fund clinical and basic research of developing treatments, including fatigue testing on ceramic restorations and a new bone-inducing implant to treat tissue loss from periodontal disease.

The implant is being tested by Dr. Ulf Wikesjö, MCG professor of periodontics, who is researching wound-healing and tissue regeneration with a separate $1.2 million grant from Nobel Biocare (see Something to Smile About).

The $2 million contracted through Visual and Instructional Design Services will fund an advanced global education program on implant and aesthetic restorative solutions that will be distributed internationally to other dental schools. The program, guided by Dr. Cibirka, will be digitally based so it can   be applied in Web-based or  other technologically advanced learning platforms.

“Nobel Biocare carefully selected the Medical College of Georgia to collaborate with to develop this unique global educational program based on the highly regarded talents of our instructional designers in Visual and Instructional Design Services,” Dr. Cibirka said. “I have presented this educational platform on every continent around the world and have met with nothing less than the highest compliments for the talents of our academic support units. The substantial international recognition for our academic enterprise at the Medical College of Georgia is magnificent.”

“It is a great privilege for   MCG to continue our longstanding relationship with this international company,      one that has been built on exceptional performance and mutual respect,” Dr. Drisko said.  “We are very appreciative of Nobel’s generous support of our educational programs.”

Nobel Biocare products are consistently used in the School of Dentistry and several faculty members serve as research consultants for the company. The school was one of two U.S. sites to broadcast live surgeries showcasing new implant procedures last spring, a project also funded by the company.

-Jennifer Hilliard

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