DR. NEIL PARK: Randy, let’s start with you. When you were growing up, your father was a prosthodontist. How did that influence your choice of career?

Dr. RANDOLPH RESNIK: My father, Dr. Rudolph Resnik,  graduated in 1951 from the University of Pittsburgh and then completed advanced training in dental anesthesiology and prosthodontics in the Navy. He then went on to practice for almost 40 years in Pittsburgh as a fixed prosthodontist. When I was about six years old, I started going into the office and watching him in private practice. This early exposure to dentistry led to my desire to follow in his footsteps.

NP: When your father was practicing fixed prosthodontics, did it include any implant dentistry?

RR: Not at all. His practice was limited to traditional fixed prosthetics, which unfortunately at that time did not include dental implantology concepts. As a fixed prosthodontist, he specialized in full-mouth rehabilitation, often treating cases with insufficient abutments as well as large arch spans. When he was able to see how oral implantology impacted dentistry, he was truly amazed.

NP: Chris, let’s turn to you. You also grew up with a father who is a prosthodontist. How did that influence you? Did you look at other career choices, or did you know from day one?

Dr. CHRISTOPHER RESNIK: I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a dentist and follow in my father’s and my grandfather’s footsteps. With the integration of oral implantology, I knew this field would be exciting with unlimited future potential.

NP: Your father’s practice was significantly different than your grandfather’s because of the additional modality of implant dentistry. Is the way you practice prosthodontics different than your dad’s?

CR: Yes, I would say there are definitely differences between my current practice and my father’s. Just as there were technological advancements in his time compared to his father’s, incredible technological advances have changed the way I practice. While my father’s clinical practice initially relied on analog methods, digital methods and advanced materials now allow us to provide patient care in a significantly transformed manner. It’s truly remarkable how far we’ve come! 

NP: We have a saying at Glidewell that you can’t digitize a process until you’ve got the analog process figured out. For example, designing a crown. If you don’t know what a crown looks like, and you can’t carve a crown in wax, you’re probably not going to be able to design it digitally.

CR: Exactly. We are fortunate we have had many years of research and development in the field of oral implantology by many true pioneers. They have paved the way for us to successfully treat patients more efficiently and predictably via surgical guides, 3D printing, scanning and digital smile design. However, understanding the foundation of implant dentistry and analog methods is invaluable to this process.

NP: Randy, you have practiced very successfully for many years without these digital tools. What do you think about them?

RR: Dentistry is changing so fast, especially in the field of oral implantology. I believe that digital technology is the most significant advancement in dentistry I have ever seen. We are now able to treat patients more accurately, which has allowed oral implantology to be a more prosthetic- and esthetic-driven modality.

NP: And, of course, we do all these things for the benefit of the patient. Specifically, how does this new technology benefit the patient?

RR: In the early days of oral implantology, it was common to place an implant where the bone was, and then a prosthesis would be fabricated to adapt to the implant position. Now, with digital technology, we can determine the final prosthetic outcome prior to initiating the surgical phase. This has resulted in a more predictable and esthetic treatment.

NP: Do these types of tools like digital surgical guides make for a more efficient delivery of care?

RR: Yes, even though I am more old-school in freehand implant placement, I appreciate the ease and precision of surgical guides. Oral implantology has changed drastically: Cases that were difficult or impossible to complete in the past are now being completed with precision through an easier surgical and prosthetic workflow.

NP: I’d like to ask you about some projects that I know you work on together. Randy, you’ve been active in writing the Misch series of implantology textbooks since 1991. Originally, you worked with Dr. Carl Misch on those textbooks, and I know since his passing, you’re still working on updating them like you were before.

RR: Yes, our field changes so dramatically that textbooks need to be updated regularly. In dedication to Dr. Misch’s lifelong commitment to oral implantology, I wrote a complications textbook in 2017. Since then, Christopher and I have updated both the surgical and prosthetic textbooks. When I look back on my relationship with Dr. Misch, I’m amazed at the foresight he had in the field. He was truly ahead of his time, and his core principles and classifications are still used as the basis for most common procedures to this day. It is truly an honor to carry on his legacy and to have Christopher be such an integral part of these new writings.

NP: I admire your tenacity because you are always writing a textbook. The minute you finish a new edition of one, you immediately start on the new edition for another textbook. Particularly in the field of prosthetics, there’s been so much new technology and so much to update. Christopher, can you tell us some of the chapters that you’re writing and what topics you’re concentrating on in the prosthetics book?

CR: Yes, it has been a true honor and very exciting to help contribute to these textbooks with my father. My major goal in both the surgical and prosthetic textbooks has been to incorporate the digital workflow for both the surgical and prosthetic phases of implant dentistry. Additional topics discussed in these textbooks include updated methods for testing osseointegration, stackable surgical guide workflows, immediate load protocols, and the utilization of photogrammetry and CAD/CAM technology in implant dentistry.

NP: Chris, you haven’t been out of dental school for very long, and you know the way that students use textbooks today is different than how they used textbooks 30 years ago. When you have such a comprehensive textbook like this, what’s the best way for a dental student or a practicing doctor to use this book and get the most out of it?

CR: The textbooks are uniquely written to encompass the entire implantology process. Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned implant clinician, I believe reading the books cover to cover is most important. Unfortunately, there often is not enough time for students to learn advanced topics like oral implantology. Similarly, the field has changed so drastically that even well-experienced doctors still will benefit from reading the textbooks in entirety. These textbooks, which are constantly updated, mirror the educational curriculum at the Resnik Implant Institute. This can be seen by the number of past graduates, as far back as the 1980s, who return to the institute to learn the latest advancements and procedures in our field. With each course, we are constantly updating the curriculum to follow the latest techniques, literature and technology. 

NP: I remember the first time I went through the implant program, Randy started by talking a lot about socket grafting. He explained that the course would pay for itself in a couple of weeks if we started grafting sockets. It’s a tremendous program and that is why it has been so successful. I know you are now an integral part of the Resnik Institute, right?

CR: Yes, after completing my residency program, I remained highly involved with the Resnik Institute. Interestingly, it continues to become even more of a family affair: My mother, who is a registered nurse, and my wife, who is a general dentist, actively contribute to the Resnik Institute’s daily operations. It’s truly incredible to see our shared dedication and commitment to advancing the Institute’s mission of ensuring the success of every doctor. 

NP: Randy, how has the curriculum at the Resnik Institute changed since Christopher joined your faculty?

RR: Each time we offer a course, we make it a priority to update the curriculum and incorporate the latest advancements in our field. Staying current with the ever-evolving knowledge and technologies is crucial for providing our students with the best possible education. Our goal is to teach doctors the philosophy and protocols first, then implement these concepts in hands-on laboratory sessions. With the help of Glidewell, I believe our hands-on labs are unprecedented in the field. The curriculum has allowed both seasoned doctors and those with little-to-no experience in implantology to implement this education into their own practices. We’ve developed the curriculum into five sessions, and each session builds upon the previous one: socket grafting, atraumatic extraction, single implants, multiple implants and bone grafting. This continuum format has worked for over 35 years, and I think it’s the best way to learn how to implement implant dentistry into your practice. 

NP: There are so many courses in the world of implant education right now, but your enrollment increases and consistently sells out. Why do you think the Resnik Institute continues to grow, despite there being so many courses out there?

RR: Our best referrals are doctors who have already taken our courses. This tells us that our curriculum is effective and has a positive impact on the lives of our doctors. We integrate every aspect of the implant process, including medical evaluation, radiographic analysis, comprehensive treatment planning and postoperative maintenance. All these aspects play a significant role in every single clinical situation we encounter. In fact, we have so much valuable information to share on a given weekend that we’ve launched an online platform to share additional information. Through this platform, doctors can watch multiple lectures and undergo self-assessments through quizzes prior to attending the live course. I believe that the reason our enrollment continues to increase is because we have learned what works and what doesn’t. At the Resnik Institute, we prioritize the success of doctors. Our focus is on providing valuable insights and knowledge that will keep doctors out of trouble and enhance their overall professional journey.

NP: The institute is more than 30 years old. You know what works; you know what doesn’t work. You know how doctors are successful, and you know the areas they can get in trouble. I think that’s what gives your institute such a great reputation in the market.

RR: Yes. That is what keeps us motivated at the Resnik Institute to continually take the curriculum to a higher level. It is very satisfying when we see doctors continually come back to repeat courses and program alumni refer their colleagues to us.

NP: At Glidewell, we’ve been associated with you and the Resnik Institute since 2015. It’s certainly been a great experience for us to work with the institute and the high-quality education that you deliver. How has our partnership affected the institute?

RR: Well, I don’t think we could have done it without you! Glidewell supporting us has been unbelievable. If Christopher or I have a vision of a new procedure, lab or material, Glidewell will make it happen. I believe that we’re keeping up to date because Glidewell is the largest dental lab in the world, and their remarkable accomplishments in the field highlight their progressiveness. Their support and abundant resources are why we’ve been so successful and continue to be successful.