Editor’s Letter

This issue marks my final edition as Editor-in-Chief of Chairside^® magazine. After 50 years in dentistry, I will be retiring in early 2026. Over the past decade, I hope this publication has helped introduce you to emerging techniques and materials and has provided insights to support both your clinical growth and business success.

Since 1975, when I was a D1 at Temple University, our profession has undergone extraordinary transformation. The predominant restorative material was amalgam, and self-threading pins were the latest retention technique. Digital radiography was a distant dream, and CAD/CAM existed only in science fiction. The notion that we would one day design and mill ceramic crowns and bridges in our offices was unimaginable. While a few of the early pioneers in implant dentistry were hard at work, the development of predictable surgical and restorative protocols was still years in the future.

Yet, here we are. The pace and scale of change have been remarkable. We have progressed from film to fully digital imaging, from traditional impressions to precise intraoral scanning, and from purely mechanical dentistry to biomimetic approaches that honor tooth structure and the supporting anatomy. Adhesive dentistry has reshaped how we think about preparation and restoration design, and ceramic materials now rival — if not surpass — the durability of legacy materials. Implants are now part of everyday dentistry, offering our patients a predictable option for tooth replacement.

But technology is only part of the story. What has endured across these five decades is the importance of the doctor-patient relationship: the trust; the communication; the empathy; and the satisfaction of relieving pain, restoring function, remaking smiles, and improving lives through oral health. The art of dentistry still matters every bit as much as the science.

To my colleagues, to the contributors who have generously shared their expertise in these pages, and to the readers who have relied on us for practical, relevant information — thank you. You have made this journey deeply rewarding. Chairside magazine will continue under new leadership, and I am confident it will grow and adapt to meet the opportunities ahead.

As I pass the baton, my counsel is simple: continue learning, embrace innovation with intention, mentor those who follow, and stay connected to the reasons you entered this profession. Technical excellence is essential, but the humanity we bring to our work is what ultimately defines us.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you.