Pioneer of Regenerative Dentistry
The immense experience Prof. Sculean has accumulated over more than two decades as a specialist in periodontology—in research, teaching, and clinical practice—has not gone unnoticed. He has garnered significant attention, particularly for his research findings, which continue to revolutionize dentistry. So it’s no wonder that Prof. Dr. med. dent, Dr. h.c. (mult.) Anton Sculean received an award in 2020 that is considered one of the most coveted honors in professional circles: he was awarded the “IADR Distinguished Scientist Award.”
The IADR, whose full name is the International Association for Dental Research, is considered the most important international association for dental research, with approximately 12,000 members worldwide. It promotes dental research and has set itself the goal of improving oral health worldwide. For over a century, the IADR has championed the idea that dentists from every continent should have better access to research findings and the knowledge they provide.
Prestigious Scientific Award Went to Prof. Sculean in 2020
Prof. Dr. Anton Sculean meets the criteria for this award like hardly any other dentist in the German-speaking world. It has always been important to him that the research findings he develops through productive teamwork have direct practical relevance and are thus of crucial importance for the oral health of his patients. His goal is to ensure that the exchange between basic research and clinical research takes place, so to speak, without barriers—and that application in medical practice always remains the focus. This also includes ensuring that specialists around the world have access to his findings. And he never tires of further refining his already exceptionally high standards.
At the German Society of Periodontology (DG PARO), one of the oldest and largest dental societies in the world, champagne corks were likely popping upon hearing the news of the award. This is because Prof. Dr. med. dent, Dr. h.c. (mult.) Anton Sculean was—and remains—the first member of the DG PARO to be honored with the “IADR Distinguished Scientist Award.” For the society, which is more than eighty years old and primarily carries out scientific and professional work in the field of dentistry, oral, and maxillofacial medicine, this marked the closing of a circle: For the approximately 4,400 active members of the DG PARO, the award given to their leading member was seen as a sign that real progress is being made in periodontology research—and for the benefit of patients.
The American web portal Expertscape regularly compiles rankings of the world’s best medical professionals and hospitals in specific fields of medicine. According to this ranking, Prof. Sculean is currently listed as the number one periodontist worldwide.
Professor Sculean’s high international reputation was once again confirmed by his appointment as the new editor-in-chief of the journal *Periodontology 2000*. With an impact factor of 7.718, *Periodontology 2020* is ranked number one out of a total of 91 dental journals. For the first time in its history, this important journal is moving from the U.S. to Europe—specifically to Bern, under the leadership of Prof. Sculean. This makes Prof. Sculean the only member of the DG Paro, former president of the Swiss Society of Periodontology (SSP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), to be appointed Editor-in-Chief of the most prominent journal not only in periodontology and implantology but in the entire field of dentistry.
In addition, Prof. Sculean was awarded the Romanian Order of Merit for his scientific and medical achievements. He also received this order in recognition of his contribution to the consolidation and development of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Romania. The Order has a tradition dating back more than a hundred years and was first awarded by the King of Romania. Prof. Sculean was presented with this Order on behalf of the Romanian President by Dr. Vlad Vasiliu, the Romanian Ambassador to Switzerland.
High Honor: Ambassador Dr. Vasiliu Presents Prof. Sculean with the Romanian Order of Merit
Outstanding Expertise: Early Focus on Periodontology
The fact that he has now been awarded the “IADR Distinguished Scientist Award” hits the nail on the head—because “distinguished” means nothing other than outstanding. And the ambition with which Prof. Sculean approaches his research plans is, in itself, outstanding. He has always been driven by a clear commitment to research—and he has a clear goal: How can periodontitis be stopped? And above all: How can lost tissue be regenerated? This, in fact, is one of the main areas in which the renowned specialist has focused his daily research work.
Prof. Sculean also knew early on that he would focus particularly strongly on periodontology. When he gives lectures today, many attendees are amazed that he can switch languages with ease—he delivers his seminars in five languages alone, and speaks two others fluently. This is no coincidence—and has a lot to do with the openness and versatility that have consistently distinguished outstanding researchers.
He was born into a multicultural environment in Transylvania, Romania. He studied dentistry at Semmelweis University in Budapest, earned his doctorate in Münster, Westphalia, received his postgraduate training at the Royal Dental College in Aarhus, Denmark, and soon afterward passed the board certification exam in—of course—periodontology. He also earned his habilitation in this field in 2001 at Saarland University in Homburg. Next country, next language: In 2004, he became head of the Department of Periodontology at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
More Important Than Ever: Aesthetic Aspects of Periodontology
Prof. Sculean received the IARD Award for a field that would likely not have made such progress over the past two decades without him: regenerative and plastic-aesthetic periodontal therapy. According to a common definition, plastic periodontal surgery encompasses the “surgical and nonsurgical correction of morphological defects,” as well as the “correction of soft tissue and associated bone in terms of position and volume.” The scope of this field is very broad, and microsurgical and minimally invasive surgical techniques are generally employed. As aesthetic standards have continued to rise in recent decades—and oral harmony is now of enormous importance, especially for the front teeth—periodontology has increasingly evolved into an art form. For specialists like Prof. Sculean, it is important to achieve the greatest possible harmony of form, color, and texture.
But it is the combination of satisfactory aesthetics and periodontal health that is the focus when treating advanced periodontitis. Through his highly advanced treatment concepts, Prof. Sculean consistently ensures maximum tissue preservation—even in conjunction with orthodontic treatments. The surgical technique developed by him and his team enables scar-free gum regeneration and delivers results that were unthinkable just a few years ago. It is precisely these particularly gentle methods and treatment options that lead to significantly improved wound healing—and predictable clinical outcomes.
Scar-Free Regeneration: “Results That Were Unthinkable Just a Few Years Ago”
Methods and Materials: Research for Patients
His research findings also continue to make waves when it comes to the materials used—right down to the specialized instruments with which he performs his surgical techniques. Of course, his patients do not need to understand exactly what is meant when he discusses avoiding vertical relief incisions or the use of subepithelial connective tissue grafts, or when he refers to collagen matrices with or without enamel matrix proteins. What matters most to them is that Prof. Dr. med. dent, Dr. h.c. (mult.) Anton Sculean can rebuild the periodontium even when they suffer from highly advanced forms of periodontitis.
After all, what matters to his patients is the result—and this empathetic specialist at the University of Bern’s Dental Clinics is very good at explaining how he rebuilds the gums and where the tissue comes from that anchors the tooth in the bone. And you’ll learn which oral hygiene practices are best for long-lasting dental health—and why you should avoid the widely used aggressive brushing methods. All of this is gladly explained in seven languages.
