How I Met Brånemark: Dr. Dov Kischinovsky on Full-Arch Restorations

Every profession has pioneers who changed the way things are done. For implant dentistry, one of those pioneers is Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, whose work on osseointegration gave rise to the modern era of implants. But for Dr. Dov Kischinovsky, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with more than five decades of experience, meeting Brånemark wasn’t just a historical moment, it was the spark that shaped his career and inspired a lifelong pursuit of innovation in full-arch implantology.

Beginnings in a Different Era

By the time dental implants were first introduced, Dr. Dov Kischinovsky was already an established oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He had trained and practiced at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and later at Beilinson Hospital, where he specialized in advanced surgical procedures. Following years of clinical work, he opened his own private practice.

It was only then, as implants were just beginning to emerge as a novel concept, that he attended a course led by Professor Brånemark and Professor Stenberg. Until that moment, the standard of care relied on fixed bridges, and dentures. The idea of anchoring titanium into bone was new, unproven, and not yet widely accepted.

In his private clinic, Dr. Kischinovsky began cautiously, first restoring cases with single implants, then expanding into multiple implants in both the lower and upper jaws. He soon faced fully atrophic patients, where grafting was the only option. With an anesthetist on his team, he performed complex horseshoe grafts harvested from the hip, followed by the placement of four implants immediately. These were demanding surgeries, but for patients who had lived without teeth, they offered a transformative new possibility.

A Conversation That Changed Everything

One defining moment came when Professor Brånemark himself visited Israel. Dr. Kischinovsky presented his case of a sinus graft with four immediately placed implants, proud of the accomplishment. To his surprise, Brånemark was not impressed. Instead, he remarked:

“Soon we will not need to do sinus lifts.”

At the time, grafting was considered the only viable pathway, but Brånemark had already been placing and testing zygomatic implants as an alternative solution. Years later, he was able to publish his clinical studies, which paved the way for their acceptance in clinical practice and reshaped the future of full-arch restorations.

The Rise of Zygomatic and Pterygoid Implants

Determined to master these new techniques, Dr. Kischinovsky traveled to Berlin for one of the first zygomatic implants training sessions with Professor Malavez. There, he saw the revolutionary use of CT scans to visualize anatomy in three dimensions, including the posterior maxilla.

Back in his clinic, he began placing zygomatic implants freehand, later refining the process with surgical guides and eventually designing his own mucosal-supported guides for greater precision. This opened the door to quad zygoma cases, where four zygomatic implants restore an entire arch for patients once considered untreatable.

These breakthroughs eliminated the need for invasive grafts in many cases, shortening treatment time and improving patient comfort. “It was the moment when full-arch restorations became predictable for even the most complex cases,” he explains.

All-on-4 vs. All-on-6: A Surgeon’s Philosophy

The All-on-4® concept has become a popular solution worldwide, especially in the mandible where bone is denser. But Dr. Kischinovsky remained cautious about relying on only four implants in the maxilla.

He often told colleagues: “All-on-4, or none in three.” If one implant failed, the entire restoration was jeopardized.

Instead, he favored All-on-6 when possible, combining anterior anchorage with pterygoid or zygomatic implants to distribute forces more evenly. His philosophy was simple: add support wherever possible, because long-term stability matters more than short-term convenience.

From Tilted Implants to Digital Precision

As implantology advanced, tilted placements in the nasal floor, pterygoid, or zygoma became routine. The challenge was not placing the implants, but restoring them.

With the advent of multi-unit abutments, available in 17°, 30°, 45°, 52° and 60°, restoring non-parallel implants became feasible. Yet for Dr. Kischinovsky, the true revolution came with digital workflows.

For over 20 years, he has embraced CBCT planning and intraoral scanning, enabling collaboration with prosthodontists and technicians worldwide. “With digital tools, we can all sit at the same table, even if we’re on different continents,” he says.

The result: faster treatment, fewer complications, and restorations that are both functional and esthetic.

The Details That Matter: Multi-Unit Platforms

Even the smallest decisions, like choosing between a 1.4 mm and 1.6 mm screw channel, can affect outcomes.

• 1.4 mm Multi Units were the first multi-unit type introduced and are still the most widely used today. They feature a 1.4 mm screw channel, which has become a common standard across many implant systems.

• 1.6 mm Multi Units incorporate a wider 1.6 mm screw channel, offering increased strength and fatigue resistance, especially valuable in full-arch restorations where mechanical stability is critical.

These details, often overlooked, reflect the precision that defines modern full-arch implantology.

Lessons for the Next Generation

Looking back, Dr. Kischinovsky’s story mirrors the evolution of the field itself: from bone grafting and months of healing to zygomatic implants, multi-unit abutments, and fully digital workflows. His guiding principle has always been predictability, not just placing implants, but ensuring restorations will last for decades.

“Today, full-arch implantology is about planning prosthetics first, then working backward,” he says. “Surgery is just one part of the bigger picture.”

The GDT Implants Perspective

At GDT Implants, we share this restorative-driven philosophy. Our portfolio, from zygomatic implant systems to multi-unit abutments, supports clinicians treating even the most complex cases.

By combining advanced surface treatments, precision engineering, and digital systems, GDT Implants provides solutions that empower dental professionals to achieve the same kind of predictable outcomes that Dr. Kischinovsky has championed throughout his career.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the advantage of zygomatic implants in full-arch cases?
Zygomatic implants eliminate the need for bone grafting in severely resorbed maxilla. They anchor into the zygomatic bone, offering immediate stability and reducing treatment time.

Q: Why is All-on-6 often preferred over All-on-4 in the upper jaw?
All-on-6 provides better load distribution, especially in softer bones. It reduces the risk of complete prosthetic failure if one implant fails, offering more predictable long-term outcomes.

Q: How do digital workflows improve full-arch restorations?
Digital planning with CBCT and intraoral scans allows surgeons, prosthodontists, and technicians to collaborate seamlessly. It improves accuracy, reduces errors, and shortens overall treatment time.

Final Takeaway

Dr. Dov Kischinovsky’s journey from graft-heavy beginnings to zygomatic and digital precision is more than a personal story, it’s the story of modern implantology. His dedication to innovation, careful planning, and collaboration serves as a guide for today’s clinicians seeking excellence in full-arch rehabilitation.

With the right philosophy, the right technology, and the right implants, we can continue building on Brånemark’s legacy, one patient at a time.