World-Class Instructors Woodland Hills, CA

Dr. Homa Zadeh is an internationally renowned periodontist recognized for his clinical and scientific expertise. Dr. Zadeh is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery. He has served as tenured associate professor of the post-doctoral periodontology (2012 to 2019), as well as Chair of Periodontology Section (2003-2006) at USC Ostrow School of Dentistry. Dr. Zadeh graduated from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Science degree, followed by Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from USC Ostrow School of Dentistry. He completed post-doctoral clinical training in periodontology, as well as a PhD degree in immunology, at the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine, respectively. Dr. Zadeh has lectured nationally and internationally in over 30 countries at prestigious conferences on topics ranging from aesthetics to minimally invasive periodontal and implant surgery, as well as tissue engineering. Dr. Zadeh served as president of the Western Society of Periodontology (WSP) in 2017, which is the largest regional periodontology society spanning the 16 western US states and Canadian provinces. Dr. Zadeh is the innovator of the VISTA technique recognized around the world as one of the most effective methods for the treatment of gingival recession. He has also innovated many concepts and devices, which have been patented and developed into products in clinical use in many countries. Dr. Zadeh has an extensive publication track, including over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and numerous book chapters. He serves as an editorial reviewer for many scientific journals. He served as a chartered scientific reviewer to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and chaired a scientific panel at the NIH Center for Scientific Review. Dr. Zadeh has served as the director of USC International Periodontal and Implant Symposium. Dr. Zadeh is the recipient of many honors and awards, including outstanding teaching award and outstanding service award from USC Ostrow School of Dentistry and many research grants. He is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology, Western Society of Periodontology (WSP), Academy of Osseointegration (AO), American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), American Dental Association® (ADA), California Dental Association (CDA), San Fernando Valley Dental Association (SFVDA) and Santa Barbara Ventura Dental Association (SBVDA).

Dr. Ali Zadeh has over 35 years of experience as a periodontist. He completed his post-doctoral periodontology clinical training at New York University (NYU). Upon completion of his training, he remained at NYU as a full-time faculty for five years. He subsequently served as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Zadeh is a pioneer in the field of implant surgery as one of the first periodontists to perform osseointegrated surgical implant therapy in Los Angeles beginning in the 1980’s. He has decades of experience with surgical reconstructive therapies for bone and soft tissue therapy for teeth and dental implants. He is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), Academy of Osseointegration (AO), American Dental Association® (ADA), California Dental Association (CDA), and Santa Barbara Ventura Dental Association (SBVDA).

Dr. Tara Aghaloo is a Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UCLA School of Dentistry. She completed her dental training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency, MD, and PhD in Oral Biology at UCLA. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and is a board examiner for the specialty. She has a very active clinical practice focusing on bone and soft tissue regeneration, dental implant surgery, and osteonecrosis of the jaws. She is also active in professional organizations where she is the Associate Editor for the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Past-President of the Academy of Osseointegration (AO), and a member of several American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) committees.

Prof. Maurício Araújo is a periodontist working both in private practice in Rio de Janeiro and as the chairman of the Periodontology and Implant Research Unit at Universidade Estadual de Maringá in Paraná, Brazil. He completed his PhD at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1998. He has, together with his co-workers, published groundbreaking research in the fields of ridge alterations following tooth extraction, ridge preservation, bone formation in extraction sockets and immediate implant placement. He is an Osteology Foundation Honorary Board Member, ITI Fellow, former ITI Chairman in Brazil and ITI Research committee member. He is also a member of the editorial board of several scientific journals.

Dr Gustavo Avila-Ortiz is a board-certified periodontist and an internationally recognized educator and researcher in the fields of periodontics and implant dentistry. He is a Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and currently serves as Co Editor-in-Chief of The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry (IJPRD).

Dr Avila-Ortiz earned his DDS and PhD from the University of Granada in Spain, followed by a Master of Science degree and a Certificate in Periodontics from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

With more than 15 years of teaching and research experience, he has held academic appointments at prestigious institutions, including the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Complutense University of Madrid, and the University of Iowa, where he served as Chair of the Department of Periodontics. In his career, he has contributed to the advancement of the profession through active participation in numerous institutional committees and scientific organizations.

Dr Avila-Ortiz has co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, 10 book chapters, and the book TISSUES: Critical Issues in Periodontics and Implant-Related Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which has been critically acclaimed within the profession and translated into multiple languages. He has received numerous honors, including the AAP Distinguished Scientist Award in 2022.

Shayan Barootchi, DDS, MS, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and an internationally recognized expert in periodontal and peri-implant plastic surgery, immediate implant therapy, and implant disease management. He serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity, Division of Periodontology, at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontics & Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Dr. Barootchi’s research spans basic science, translational investigations, and clinical trials, with more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications in leading journals. He has pioneered minimally invasive microsurgical techniques, advanced soft tissue grafting approaches, and novel diagnostic technologies for peri-implant diseases, along with the development of specialized surgical instruments. His work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the AAP Foundation Balint Orban Clinical Research Award, the Schoor Research Award, and the Best Clinical Innovations Award from the Academy of Osseointegration.

He currently serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Periodontal Research and Clinical Implant Dentistry & Related Research, and lectures internationally, advancing contemporary concepts in esthetic implant therapy and soft tissue regeneration.

Dr. Gonçalo Carames, DDS, MS, MD, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology with advanced specialty training in periodontology and implant surgery from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, where he also earned a Master of Science in Craniofacial Biology. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University NOVA of Lisbon, Portugal, and previously earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Lisbon. Dr. Carames maintains a private practice limited to periodontology, implant surgery, and oral medicine at Instituto de Implantologia in Lisbon and Cascais, Portugal.

Dr. Leandro Chambrone currently serves as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Periodontics at Penn Dental Medicine. He holds extensive experience in didactic teaching and clinical training of predoctoral and postgraduate (MSc and PhD) students. His first exposure to teaching was during his postgraduate training (2007-2012), when Dr. Chambrone worked with predoctoral students as a clinical supervisor and lecturer. Upon completion of this training, he joined Guarulhos University as an assistant professor, where he was in charge of lecturing didactic classes and providing laboratory and clinical training to predoctoral and postdoctoral students. He then went on to join the MSc Dentistry Program at Ibirapuera University, where his responsibilities included lecturing the predoctoral and postdoctoral classes and mentoring master students.

Dr. Chambrone serves as an ad honorem associate professor and research consultant at the Unit of Basic Oral Investigations at El Bosque University (Colombia), as well as visiting professor at the Department of Periodontology at the University of Iowa. He has developed didactical materials that have been widely used by predoctoral and postdoctoral students worldwide. Along these lines, he has co-authored a chapter in the 12th and 13th editions of Carranza’s Textbook of Periodontology, four commissioned review papers for the American Academy of Periodontology (one on soft tissue root coverage for the 2014 AAP Workshop on Periodontal Tissue Regeneration and three for the AAP Best-Evidence Consensus on Lasers and CBCT), and for the European Federation of Periodontology (XV Workshop in Periodontology). Furthermore, he has published two textbooks, one on periodontal plastic surgery for undergraduate students, published in three languages (English, Portuguese and Chinese) by Springer Verlag Book Co. in 2015, and one on decision making in dental implantology, published in five languages (English, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian and Turkish). Dr. Chambrone’s scientific papers are often reviewed in local and international certificate programs of periodontology.

Beyond his enthusiasm and dedication as a dental clinician and educator, Dr. Chambrone is also heavily involved with clinical research and evidence-based dentistry. His publications have a high impact in current dentistry and are among the most cited articles published in 2012 and 2015 at both the Journal of Clinical Periodontology and the Journal of Periodontology. Recognition of his work in the field of periodontology is also demonstrated through his membership in the Cochrane Oral Health Group and on the editorial board of an international dental journal (i.e. Clinical Oral Implants Research). In addition, Dr. Chambrone currently serves as the Section/Associate Editor of Clinical Research for the International Journal of Oral Implantology.

One of the most valuable names in the world of orthodontics, known for innovations in the use of mini-implants for the treatment of complex clinical cases. After completing his DDS and PhD in Bone Physiology from Indiana University, he founded the Beethoven Orthodontic Center and Newton’s A Inc. in Hsinchu, Taiwan. His practice specializes in the integration of mini implants, aligners, and self-ligating braces into orthodontic treatment.

Chang is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a member of the Angle Society-Midwest, which emphasizes his high professional status. His developments in the field of extraalveolar anchorage, in particular OrthoBoneScrews® (OBS), have changed the approach to the correction of classes II and III, open bite and asymmetries. This system allows for treatment without tooth extraction and minimizes surgical intervention.

His scholarly work includes more than 24 publications and the Orthodontics book series (volumes 1-6), as well as the books Words of Wisdom, Jobsology , and Trumpology. He is the publisher of the Journal of Digital Orthodontics and actively promotes digital technologies in dentistry. Among the key publications are the 2013 article “Class II Low Angle with Bilateral First Premolars Crossbite”, co-authored with Hsing-Wen Chang and W. Eugene Roberts, and the book Orthodontics and Implantology: Vol 36 (2017). His scientific works have been cited hundreds of times, confirming their relevance to the orthodontic community.

As an international lecturer and speaker at dental congress, Dr. Chang conducts seminars and courses around the world. In 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City, with the support of Otexe.com, he presented a 40-hour program dedicated to the treatment of malocclusions using mini-implants, aligners and braces. His webinars and courses on Otexe.com consistently attract a large audience and are appreciated for their practical focus and demonstration of clinical cases.

Dr. Daftary received his DDS from the National University of Iran and has completed post-doctoral training in prosthodontics at Boston University (BU). He has held a position as an assistant professor at New York University (NYU) and was associate professor and chair of the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry from 1982 to 1992. Dr. Daftary has lectured nationally and internationally on the topics of aesthetics and implant prosthodontics. He is a pioneer in the field of implant dentistry and has developed and patented more than 20 devices, which have been utilized in the development of hundreds of products commonly used in implant dentistry, including the Anatomic Abutment and Bio-Esthetic System and AIS Implant System. He also has numerous publications on different topics in prosthodontics. Dr. Daftary is a member of multiple national and local dental organizations.

Dr. Vanessa Frazão Cury is a Brazilian periodontist and implantologist with a Master’s degree in Periodontology and a PhD degree in Molecular Biochemistry. She serves as Coordinator of the Specialization Program in Periodontology and directs advanced training in Periodontal and Peri-Implant Plastic Surgery. Her clinical and academic work focuses on soft tissue management, mucogingival surgery, and esthetic implant therapy, with particular emphasis on biologically driven approaches to optimizing peri-implant and periodontal outcomes.

Alfonso Gil obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, with highest honors, from the University of the Basque Country (2008-2013). He obtained his Master of Science degree and advanced periodontology-implantology certificate from the University of Southern California (USC) (2013-2016), where he received a scholarship from Proclinic Dental Company for his research project on soft tissue augmentation. He obtained a certificate in advanced surgical implant dentistry from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (2016-2017). He became board certified and a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 2017 and currently maintains his diplomate status.

Dr. Gil is now attending the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of Zurich, where he will receive five years of post-graduate education in fixed and removable prosthodontics and dental material sciences. He obtained his PhD, with highest honor, at the University International of Catalunya in November 2019 with the doctoral thesis project “Three-dimensional volumetric analysis of root coverage and gingival volume gain of multiple recession-type defects treated by Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA).” His research focuses on the treatment of peri-implant diseases, soft tissue augmentation of teeth, and implants and fixed prosthodontics.

Markus Hürzeler, DMD, PhD, received his dental degree from the University of Zürich in 1984, followed by certification as a Specialist in Periodontics from the Swiss Society of Periodontology in 1989 and certification in Prosthodontics from the German Society of Prosthodontics in 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. After returning to Freiburg, Germany, he earned his Docent (PhD) degree in 1996 from the Department of Prosthodontics at Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg. Since 1993, he has also served as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Texas in Houston, and since 1997 as Associate Professor in the Department of Preventive Dentistry and Periodontology at Albert-Ludwigs University, where he was appointed Professor of Dentistry in 2002.

Dr. Hürzeler subsequently relocated to Munich, Germany, where he maintains a private practice limited to periodontics and implant therapy in partnership with Dr. Zuhr. In 2008, they founded the Hürzeler/Zuhr Education Center, an internationally recognized center for advanced training in contemporary periodontal and implant therapy. He is a past President and active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED). Dr. Hürzeler has authored more than 150 scientific publications in periodontology, implant dentistry, and tissue regeneration and lectures extensively worldwide. In 2025, he published the Quintessence book Decision-Making at the Crossroads between Periodontology and Implant Dentistry: A Call for Personalized Oral Medicine, emphasizing biologically driven, patient-centered decision-making at the interface of periodontal and implant therapy.

Sascha Jovanovic, DDS, MS, received formal specialty training in Periodontics at the UCLA School of Dentistry, advanced training in Implant Dentistry at Loma Linda University, and training in Prosthodontics at the University of Aachen, Germany. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology from UCLA.

Dr. Jovanovic limits his clinical practice to dental implant therapy and bone and soft tissue reconstruction. He serves as a Course Director at UCLA Continuing Dental Education and is the Founder and Academic Chairman of the gIDE Institute (Global Institute for Dental Education), an internationally recognized center for advanced implant education.

He is a Past President of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) and a Past Board Member of the Osseointegration Foundation (OF). He is an Honorary Member of the South African Society of Periodontology and served as Program Chair of the EAO 2000 Scientific Congress. His contributions to the field have been recognized with awards from the American Academy of Periodontology, the California Society of Periodontists, and the German Implant Society (DGI).

Dr. Jovanovic’s clinical research emphasizes esthetic management in implant dentistry and advanced bone and soft tissue reconstruction techniques. His applied research has focused on bone regeneration using various grafting materials, rhBMP-2, barrier membranes, and the biology of peri-implant and periodontal soft tissues. He lectures extensively worldwide and has authored more than 60 scientific articles and book chapters, as well as the textbook Color Atlas of Implantology (Thieme).

Dr. Joseph Kan received from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (LLUSD), California, USA, and completed both Advanced Education in Prosthodontics and Advanced Program in Implant Surgery with MS degree. He is currently a Professor for Implant Dentistry and maintains a private practice.

Dr. Kan received 1997 Best Research Award from the Academy of Osseointegration at their 12th Annual meeting at San Francisco, 2003 Judson C. Hinckey Scientific Award from Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2005 Robert James Implant Dentistry Achievement Award, 2019 Honorary Membership from Association of Dental Implantology, United Kingdom, 2020 Distinguished Research Award from Loma Linda University and 2020 Distinguished Speaker Award from the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontist at the Lincoln Art Performance Center in New York. In 2021, Dr. Kan received Honorary Membership for Outstanding contribution to the field of Periodontology as well as the Clinical Research Award from the American Academy of Periodontology at the annual meeting in Miami.

Dr. Kan is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry, Journal of Esthetics and Restorative Dentistry. He was Program Chairman for the 2018 Academy of Osseointegration (AO) Annual Meeting at Los Angeles Convention Center and is currently a member on AO Board. In 2018, Dr. Kan performed live patient surgery on immediate implant placement and provisionalization with connective tissue graft at the 104th Annual meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology in Vancouver BC, Canada.

In 2017, Fardi et al (Int J Maxillofac Implants), listed four of Dr. Kan’s publications as the 100 Top cited articles in Implant Dentistry. Then in 2020, Praveen G et al (J Prosthet Dent), cited two of Dr. Kan’s publications as the top 100 most cited articles in Prosthodontics.

Besides lecturing nationally and internationally, Dr. Kan has published over 110 referenced articles and book chapters on interdisciplinary treatment planning, periodontal peri-implant tissue management, and immediate tooth replacement concepts.

Dr. Kia Karimi received his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree from University of Szeged in Hungary in 2010 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2014. His postgraduate training includes one year studying advanced clinical training in restorative dentistry from the UCLA School of Dentistry and three additional years in an Advanced Prosthodontics Residency at the USC School of Dentistry, which he completed in 2019.

He has been named “The Most Accomplished Alumni” in 2015 by the University of Szeged and was awarded the “Max Sosin Scholarship” in 2017 and 2019, and the “Howard Landesman Scholarship” in 2018 by USC. He lectures nationally and internationally on cosmetic and implant dentistry and is a peer reviewer for dental journals such as Clinical Case Reports.

A board eligible prosthodontist, Dr. Karimi’s practice is focused on full-mouth rehabilitations, implant dentistry, and minimally invasive cosmetic and adhesive dentistry. Dr. Karimi is a faculty member at the UCLA School of Dentistry in the Postdoctoral Restorative Program where he teaches cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

Purnima Kumar, BDS, MS, PhD, is the William and Mary K. Najjar Endowed Professor of Dentistry and Chair of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She earned her dental degree from Annamalai University and her MS in Periodontology from Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in India. She subsequently completed her Certificate in Periodontology and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology at The Ohio State University. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Dr. Kumar served as Professor of Periodontology and Chair of the Oral Biology PhD Program at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and The James Cancer Center.

Dr. Kumar is the Principal Investigator of the Oral Microbial Ecology Laboratory at the University of Michigan, a program continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 15 years. Her research focuses on oral microbial ecology, host–microbe interactions, and the development of therapeutic strategies for microbial modulation. She also collaborates extensively with industry partners to advance translational applications in oral health.

A Fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program, the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), and the American and International Colleges of Dentists, Dr. Kumar has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She serves as Co-Editor of Clinical Advances in Periodontics and Associate Editor for the Journal of Periodontology, Periodontology 2000, Scientific Reports, and Microbiome. She has served on numerous NIH grant review panels and currently chairs the Continuing Education Oversight Committee of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and is a member of the AAP Task Force for Future Science. She is also a member of the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Dental Association (ADA) and serves as the ADA’s spokesperson on e-cigarettes and vaping.

Dr. Kumar is active in the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and currently serves as Vice President of the Periodontal Research Group. A committed advocate for diversity and leadership development, she participates in multiple initiatives supporting women in science, surgery, and STEM. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and maintains an active clinical practice limited to periodontics and implant surgery.

Professor Niklaus Lang received his dental degree at the University of Berne in 1968 and his Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD) in 1970. After obtaining a Master of Science in periodontology at the University of Michigan, Professor Lang returned to the University of Berne to earn his PhD in 1978. Has served as Professor of Implant Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong in the area of oral rehabilitation.

Author of over 600 refereed publications and conference proceedings, Professor Lang holds four honorary doctorates as well as honorary memberships in 10 national societies. He received multiple honors, including the “Prix Louis Metzger” (1968) from the Swiss Dental Association (SSO) and the “Basic Science in Periodontal Disease Award” (1992) from the International Association for Dental Research. Former President of the International Team of Implantology (ITI) and the Swiss Society of Periodontology (SSP), Professor Lang has also served as editor-in-chief of Clinical Oral Implants Research. Professor Lang actively participates in clinical research related to implant dentistry, periodontology, etiology and pathogenesis of peri-implant infections, risk evaluations, wound healing and oral microbiology.

Dr. Bach Le completed his specialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is currently Clinical Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC where he has been an active faculty member since 2000. Dr. Le has lectured internationally on bone regeneration and dental implant-related surgery and has taught on six continents around the world. He has published extensively in scientific texts and professional peer-reviewed journals. His primary focus has been in hard and soft tissue regeneration for improving esthetic outcomes. He has been a main podium speaker at numerous national organizations, including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the American College of Prosthodontists, the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontists and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Dr. Le was inducted as an Honorary Member of the American College of Prosthodontists in 2014 and is a recipient of the Charles E. English Award in Clinical Science for “the most significant article” published in the Journal of Implant Dentistry for 2008. Dr. Le is a Diplomate of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiologist and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Dr. Le holds Fellowship in the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Guo-Hao Alex Lin, DDS, MS, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Orofacial Sciences and Director of the Postgraduate Periodontics Residency Program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry. He joined UCSF in 2017 and provides patient care services limited to periodontics and dental implant therapy. Dr. Lin is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology (ABP), where he also serves as a Board Examiner, contributing to the standards of postgraduate specialty training and certification.

Dr. Lin’s research emphasizes evidence-based dentistry, with particular focus on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and implant-related clinical outcomes. His work advances the scientific foundation of periodontal regeneration and implant therapy through rigorous data-driven methodologies integrated with clinical insight. More recently, his scholarship has explored the role of augmented intelligence in periodontics, aligning emerging digital technologies with evidence-based clinical decision-making.

His excellence in teaching and research has been recognized with multiple AAP Foundation honors, including the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award (2016), the AAP Teaching Fellowship (2018), the Dr. Colin Richman and Family Perio-Ortho Interface Award (2021), and the AAP Clinical Research Award (2021). He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is widely recognized for his contributions to contemporary periodontal and implant education and research.

Dr. Malik earned his Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Bio-Physics and Molecular Biology in 1999. He then attended New York University College of Dentistry, receiving his degree in 2003. Following dental school, Dr. Malik completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey in 2008.

As a leading oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Malik specializes in complex dental implant procedures for patients with challenging cases, including severe maxillary and mandibular deficiencies. His expertise includes the Bar Attachment Denture procedure, placement of zygomatic and pterygoid maxillary implants, onlay symphyseal/ramus and iliac crest hip bone grafts, full arch implants, and advanced facial reconstruction. He has trained extensively with world-renowned experts in Canada, Spain, and around the world. Dr. Malik also routinely performs facial cosmetics, facial trauma, TMJ procedures, bone grafting, pathology, dental implants, sedation, and wisdom teeth extractions.

Dr. Malik is a sought-after lecturer and trainer, educating surgeons and dentists worldwide on complex surgical techniques. He speaks on full arch implants at national symposia main stages and prestigious institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Oral Surgery) and Mayo Clinic Rochester (Oral Surgery). As a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) for major implant companies including BioHorizons and Nobel Biocare, he shares cutting-edge insights. Additionally, he serves as KOL and head surgeon lead at restor3D, designing innovative solutions for atrophic maxilla and mandible to restore function and aesthetics for patients in need of advanced dental implants.

Dr. Seiko Min is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery. He currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the director of the Periodontology Preceptorship Program. Dr. Min has completed post-doctoral periodontology training at USC Ostrow School of Dentistry, where he also earned the Master of Science degree in Craniofacial Biology. He had previously earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and PhD degree in bone biology at Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan. He has been received prestigious awards by American Academy of Periodontology, Academy of Osseointegration, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Osteology Foundation. He has published many scientific papers and is an internationally renowned lecturer, best known for his work in the field of soft tissue management and his research on new technologies in periodontology and implant dentistry.

Craig Misch, DDS, MDS, is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Florida, the University of Alabama, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan, with appointments in the Departments of Periodontics and Prosthodontics. He is dual-trained in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Prosthodontics and is internationally recognized as an authority in bone grafting and implant reconstruction.

Dr. Misch serves as Editor-in-Chief of The International Journal of Oral Implantology and has published extensively on maxillofacial regeneration, sinus augmentation, vertical and horizontal ridge augmentation, and implant prosthetics. He lectures worldwide on advanced implant reconstruction and regenerative surgical techniques. His recent Quintessence publication, Horizontal and Vertical Bone Augmentation for Dental Implant Therapy, provides comprehensive clinical guidance on contemporary hard tissue augmentation strategies for implant therapy.

Dr. Giulio Rasperini serves as Associate Professor of Periodontology, University of Milan, Italy, and Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan. Dr. Rasperini’s research has focused on periodontal regeneration with extensive publication track in this area. He is an active member of the Italian Society of Periodontology, the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, and is an ITI fellow. He serves on the Editorial Boards for several publications, including the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, and the Journal of Implant and Advanced Clinical Dentistry. He maintains a private practice specialized in periodontology and implant therapy in Milan.

Dr. Rojas is Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is the Founder and Director of the Mediterranean Prosthodontic Institute and maintains a private practice limited to dental implant surgery and prosthodontics in Castellon, Spain. Dr. Rojas has innovated some of the most anatomically realistic models available through his company (Bone Models) and has designed educationally-valuable simulated exercises, which he has conducted in dozens of countries around the world to clinicians. Dr. Rojas received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree at the University Javeriana School of Dentistry in Bogota, Colombia. He received a Doctorate in Buccal Surgery and his University Specialty Degrees in both Oral Medicine and Implant Surgery at the University Complutense in Madrid. He received his Certificate training in Oral Surgery at Gregorio Marañon Hospital in Madrid, Spain. Dr. Rojas completed his post-doctoral specialty degree in prosthodontics along with a Master of Sciences degree in prosthodontics, and a Fellowship in Oral Implantology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, USA. He is a Diplomate and Mastership of the ICOI-IPS, and he has the homologation by the European Jury for Implantology and Oral Rehabilitation. His major research interest includes esthetic management in complex dental implant cases in immediate placement and immediate loading protocols. He has published extensively on these topics in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Abdi Sameni graduated from the USC School of Dentistry in 1991. He has been a member of the USC clinical faculty since 1998. He is a former senior faculty for the Esthetic Selective program, which emphasizes a biomimetic approach to restorative and esthetic care. He was the original director of the USC Advanced Esthetic Dentistry Continuum for the portion relating to indirect porcelain veneers. He currently is the course director for an intensive lecture and hands-on course relating to indirect bonded porcelain restoration, and he is the chairman and developer of the USC International Restorative Dental Symposium for the USC School of Dentistry.

Dr. Sameni lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to interdisciplinary dentistry, digital photography and its applications for dentistry, and various aspects of biomimetic and esthetic dentistry. Dr. Sameni is a past president of the USC Dental Alumni Association, past president of the USC Century Club and a member of the Board of Counselors for the USC School of Dentistry. Dr. Sameni was recently appointed as the representative for the School of Dentistry to serve on the Board of Governors for the USC Alumni Association. He maintains a private practice in West Los Angeles, where he emphasizes comprehensive restorative dentistry, including implant reconstruction and esthetic dentistry.

Dr. Sameni has a conservative, non-invasive approach to dental treatment and esthetic restoration — he believes least is best. His philosophy is to work on the fewest teeth possible to achieve the patient’s required results. In particular, his understanding of natural beauty and expert attention to detail make beautiful smiles look natural and age appropriate. He goes to great lengths to allow patients to see and feel their smiles before they commit to a restorative procedure. He is personable and takes a personalized approach to each patient and their needs and concerns.

As a practitioner in the field of cosmetic and restorative dentistry, he is not only an expert dentist but an artist as well. The mechanics of cosmetic dentistry, although challenging, also require an artist’s eye when restoring someone’s smile to meet their vision of what their smile should look like. Thus, Dr. Sameni’s philosophy is centered in the meeting of his vision and the vision of each patient to achieve the best possible dental outcome for that patient. That is what sets him apart from his peers.

Dr. Navid Sharifzadeh is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery. After obtaining his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 2003 and practicing dentistry for over a decade, he enrolled into a 2013 program in Advanced Education in Periodontology at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California (USC). He earned his specialty clinical certificate as well as a Master of Science degree in craniofacial biology at USC.

The current main focus for Dr. Sharifzadeh is managing soft tissue in the vicinity of implants and natural teeth. He has authored multiple book chapters and articles about these procedures, as well as implant esthetics.

Dr. Sharifzadeh currently teaches periodontology as a visiting part-time faculty member. He is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the European Academy of Osseointegration, the (worldwide) Academy of Osseointegration and the American Academy of Periodontology.

Pascal Valentini is Adjunct Associate Professor of Implant Dentistry at Loma Linda University. Dr Valentini has earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Paris VII. He has further obtained a certificate of Oral Implantology and later served as Clinical Assistant professor in the Department of Oral Implantology between 1992 and 1996. Dr. Valentini has served as president of the European Academy of Osseointegration (EAO). He currently serves as Director of the European Post-Graduate Oral Implantology Program at the University of Corsica, in Corte, France, and for the University of Liege in Belgium. Dr. Valentini is an internationally recognized expert in maxillary sinus augmentation, due to his extensive research and publication in this field. He also engages in private practice focused on implant and regenerative surgery in Paris.

Giovanni Zucchelli, DDS, PhD, graduated in 1988 with a degree in Dentistry from the University of Bologna, Italy, where he subsequently earned a PhD in Medical Biotechnology. He served as Full Professor of Periodontology and Implantology at the University of Bologna and as President of the Italian Academy of Osseointegration (IAO). He currently holds the position of Visiting Professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland.

Professor Zucchelli is Associate Editor of The International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry and serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals, including The International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry and The International Journal of Oral Implantology. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation E. Bud Tarrson Research Award in Oral Plastic Surgery. He is an active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED), the Società Italiana di Parodontologia e Implantologia (SIdP), the Italian Academy of Osseointegration (IAO), and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), and is an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). He also received an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

An internationally renowned speaker at major scientific meetings, Professor Zucchelli has authored more than 160 scientific publications in periodontology and implantology. He is the author of the bestselling Quintessence publication Mucogingival Esthetic Surgery, translated into 12 languages, and the more recent Mucogingival Esthetic Surgery Around Implants, already translated into multiple languages. He is also coauthor of two illustrated textbooks and contributed the chapter “Mucogingival Therapy – Periodontal Plastic Surgery” to Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry (Wiley-Blackwell, 2015), further establishing his leadership in periodontal plastic and implant-related soft tissue surgery.