A significantly large gift to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry from medical implants manufacturer Astra Tech Inc. will help establish a top clinical implant dentistry program at the College. This will result in better and more affordable patient care, a unique curriculum for students, and opportunities for current practitioners to add clinical implant dentistry to their repertoire of skills.
Officials of the UIC College of Dentistry held a signing ceremony on Sept. 7 and announced the gift to the College and public on Sept. 8.
Established in the 1940s, Astra Tech is a member of the AstraZeneca Group of companies based in Molndal, Swedenone of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies
“For 20 years since the North American introduction of the scientific proof that implant dentistry was predictable and safe, dental academe has been unable to get clinical implant dentistry into the predoctoral curriculum,” said Dr. Bruce S. Graham, Dean of the UIC College of Dentistry. “The reason has been the high cost of implant dentistry for both the teaching institution and the patients who need it.
“This generous gift from Astra Tech helps the College overcome this financial barrier and become one of the very first dental schools to be able to offer clinical implant patient treatment experiences for our students,” Dean Graham continued.
Astra Tech’s significant contribution will reduce costs of implant care to patients by up to 70%, rendering implant care more affordable than conventional dental care. The gift also will fund continuing education for current practitioners in the dental community. Most importantly, it will allow patients to realistically consider all of the treatment options available to them while providing students the best possible educational experience.