Cristiano Susin: Insights into future developments on bone biomaterials and growth factors

Reconstruction of the alveolar ridge has become essential for oral rehabilitation with dental implants. Biomaterials of allogeneic, xenogeneic and synthetic origin have long been used in support of alveolar bone augmentation with mixed results. In the last decade, growth factors have been introduced to enhance wound healing and bone formation. In this context, biomaterials and biologics have great potential but also important clinical limitations, which will be presented and discussed in light of future developments.

Dr. Cristiano Susin, DDS, MSD, PhD is currently appointed as Associate Professor at the Departments of Periodontics and Oral Biology at Georgia Regents University College of Dental Medicine in Augusta, US. In 2011, Dr. Susin was appointed Director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Craniofacial Research, which provides a dedicated environment for clinician scientists, basic scientists and graduate students to perform clinical and translational oral health research. He is also Co-director of the Laboratory for Applied Periodontal and Craniofacial Regeneration, which focuses on the use of growth factors and biomaterials. Before joining George Regents University (GRU), Dr. Susin held academic positions at Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, US, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul School of Dentistry in Porto Alegre, Brazil and the Lutheran University of Brazil in Canoas, Brazil. During his dental education he was awarded a three-year research training scholarship by the Foundation for Postgraduate Education, Brazil. In 1999, he completed a fellowship in periodontology and was awarded an MS degree in dentistry from the Lutheran University School of Dentistry. In 2004, he received his PhD in Oral Epidemiology from the University of Bergen's Faculty of Dentistry in Norway. In 2011, Dr. Susin received a certificate in periodontology from GRU. He has coauthored over 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed dental and medical journals, and presented internationally on topics focusing on craniofacial regeneration and oral epidemiology.