SCIENTIFIC SESSION

AACD 2020
ORLANDO

Opening Your Mind

An Interview with Dr. Iñaki Gamborena

Iñaki Gamborena, DMD, MSD, FID, received his dental degree from Dominican Odontologic
University and a Master of Science in prosthodontics from the University of Washington, where
he received the Bolender Award for clinical and academic excellence. He was granted a
certificate in oral and craniofacial implants from the University of Texas in 1997. Coauthor of
EVOLUTION: Contemporary Protocols for Anterior Single-Tooth Implants, Dr. Gamborena is the
inventor of the “slim temporary abutment concept: maximizing space for soft tissue growth.”
His private practice in San Sebastian, Spain, is dedicated to esthetic and restorative dentistry
as well as implants.

12 2020 • Volume 35 • Number 4


Introduction
Dr. Gamborena will be a headline educator at
AACD 2020 Orlando for a full-day course titled “Key
Surgical and Prosthetic Considerations to Achieve
Optimal Esthetic Outcomes in the Esthetic Area.” His
course will take place on Friday, April 24, from 9:00
am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Register
now at aacdconference.com.
Attendees will learn about different clinical cri-
teria, sequencing and timing, and current surgical-
prosthetic techniques to maximize optimal and
predictable esthetic outcomes in the anterior zone.
They will also discover how to achieve gingival inte-
gration and esthetic success after complex esthetic
failures involving implants and natural teeth.
Coordinated by members of the jCD editorial re-
view board, this interview offers revealing insights
into Dr. Gamborena’s views on his work.
Q: What motivates you to develop new techniques
and always strive for excellent results in even
the most challenging cases?
A: When it comes to developing new techniques,
professional accomplishment and progression
are tremendously important to me, and these
factors drive me to be the very best. This is prob-
ably my biggest source of motivation. Develop-
ing new techniques is an obsession—I always
want to make treatment easier, faster, and bet-
ter for the patient. Success in developing new
modalities comes from working hard.
It is important to understand that I show only
my best work, and some of the challenging
cases don’t turn out exactly as I thought they
would. I am fortunate to excel prosthetically
and surgically, which helps me deliver great re-
sults for my patients; however, this is not always
the case from my point of view.
Q: The quality of your treatments—and your ex-
quisite photography—can be a little intimidat-
ing to the average dentist. What are some of
the key takeaways you think other dentists can
learn from you?
A: I always try to reflect my passion for what I do
through my presentations and inspire people to
improve their daily work. Improving the quality
of one’s work is the only way to survive. If I can
do it, you can do it—it’s simply a matter of time
and dedication.
Gamborena
As for the images I present—I was trained
in dental photography at the university level,
which gave me a huge advantage. I love pho-
tography and want to inspire people to be-
come better, and let them know that success
is a personal choice. My takeaway message is
that you must find your passion, then it will be
the last day you will “work”!
Q: Are the results you obtain dependent on the
implant system you use? What about your
laboratory support? Can attendees still improve
the quality of their work using a different system
and a commercial dental laboratory?
A: No, my results are not dependent on the im-
plant system I have chosen. The only way to
build a true concept is if it can be applied in
any system. It’s true that some implants can
perform better than others, dependent on their
macro and micro design, surface characteris-
tics, etc.—but they all perform relatively the
same in the patient’s mouth. What I show can
be done with any implant system.
It’s true that I have great laboratory support
to satisfy the high quality of work I want to de-
liver to my patients and show around the world.
I have designed protocols that can be trans-
ferred to different technicians. It is critically im-
portant to be able to communicate with your
laboratory effectively. Being a lab technician
myself, it has been easier to communicate with
other lab technicians. It improves my clinical
work exponentially.
As far as commercial labs, I do not have any-
thing against them. They can provide good
work, especially today when digital workflows
can give less experienced technicians guid-
ance from artificial intelligence to create beau-
tiful tooth shapes. It would take a technician
without lengthy digital dentistry experience
years to develop the skills needed to deliver the
same caliber of work.
Q: What do you see in the future for implant and
esthetic restorative dentistry?
A: They will become simpler and more accessible
to patients and especially to dentists, with easier
and noninvasive techniques, nanotechnology,
guided implant placement, machinery, and
biotechnology all helping to improve the clini-
cal integration of hard and soft tissue.
Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry 13
 SCIENTIFIC SESSION
AACD 2020
ORLANDO

Q: What is the most innovative thing in dentistry

that you have seen to date?

A: For me, it is the advances in cone beam

computed tomography and digital treat-
ment planning for implant placement, along
with guided surgery, the digitalization of the
lab procedures, the incredible improvement
of iOS and digital color-matching integration
in digital photography. Although it is difficult
nowadays to keep up with all of that!

Q: What can conference attendees expect at

your presentation at AACD 2020 Orlando?

A: I will try to open their minds regarding what

we can achieve today as well as help them
to see the different alternatives they can
implement in their treatment portfolio. I will
discuss how connective tissue grafting has
become more important than we previously
thought and show its benefits. All of this will
be presented with the best visuals, including
exquisite photography, because above all it
must be beautiful!

The AACD is excited to welcome Dr. Gam-

borena to AACD 2020 Orlando and looks for-
ward to sharing more of his ideas on how to
achieve and manage exquisite esthetics with
anterior implants.

14 2020 • Volume 35 • Number 4

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