Pride & Prejudice

Editorial Napoleon Bonaparte, once emperor of France, commented on the subject of medicine in this way: " Medicine is not an exact and positive science but a science based on conjectures and observations. I would have more confidence in a physician who has not studied the natural sciences than in one who has. " We should consider his words as we face the remarkable development of the field of periodontology and implantology over the past decades. We have witnessed several astonishing clinical successes based on the never-ending questions and endeavors of numerous scientists. Due to their research excellence, we are able to provide a favorable quality of life to our contemporaries by conserving periodontal health and curing the edentulous state with appropriate scientific knowledge. We deserve to be proud of our profession. However, let us pause for a moment. Are we really justified in this cele-bratory mood? Although modern periodontology has evolved from the study of repair into the subject of regeneration, we are still a long way from our fundamental goal, which is the identification of the genuine causes and true mechanisms of periodontal disease. The situation is more complicated with regard to dental implantology. The present dental personnel and patients are very much accustomed to this treatment modality introduced by Dr. Bra* nemark. There is a consensus that