After validating our concepts at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis in the US with my research mentor Dr William H. Douglas, we published our book on bonded porcelain restorations in 2002,⁶ at the same time as I completed my PhD on the same topic. In 2004, I was recruited by the late Dr Harold Slavkin, then dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California in the US, to teach biomimetic concepts, which led my family to move to Los Angeles. During my time at the university, my focus transitioned towards resin composite restorations.

Around that time, I connected with Dr Niek Opdam from the Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, who advocated for large direct composites. His 2010 study showing 12-year survival rates, in which large composite restorations performed as well as or better than amalgam in most situations, was eye-opening.⁷ Resin composite is inherently biomimetic—it mimics enamel’s wear resistance and dentine’s flexibility. What was missing, however, was the fracture toughness of dentine. That’s when GC’s everX came into the picture, offering fibre reinforcement that finally bridged that gap. This FRC is one of the most exciting developments in recent years and a true game-changer in mimicking dentine effectively.

You’ve often emphasised the importance of preserving the tooth over the restoration. Could you elaborate on how this philosophy influences your material choices?
My shift towards biomimetic dentistry began with my early experiences as a prosthodontist. I saw first hand how conventional restorations—cast posts and cores plus crowns—often failed catastrophically after several years, even when done with great care. The restoration held up, but the tooth failed. These failures, especially root fractures that made teeth unrestorable, deeply affected me. It was frustrating to see excellent dentistry still result in tooth loss.

That led me to question the materials and methods we were using. Zirconia, for example, is strong and widely used. We need to be careful when using extremely strong materials because they can transfer stress deeper into the tooth, increasing the risk of root fractures. Biomimetic dentistry, however, taught me that restorations should be allowed to fail in a way that protects the tooth—not the other way around.

I also started paying more attention to antagonistic wear. While we often worry about our restorations wearing down, we rarely consider the damage they cause to opposing teeth. Porcelain and glass-ceramics are beautiful but harsh on enamel. Resin composite, however, wears more itself, but is much gentler on the opposing enamel. That’s why, especially in posterior restorations facing natural teeth, I prefer composite—it’s simply more tooth-friendly.

In your current practice, are you placing more ceramic or more composite restorations?
Let me start by saying this: well-executed bonded porcelain restorations are certainly the most aesthetic and long-lasting treatment, but they remain more expensive and slightly less conservative than direct restorations. Ceramic veneers also require collaboration with a master ceramist and laboratory. These elements may constitute significant limitations for some clinicians or patients.

Ceramic printing is another exciting area. Emerging systems now allow for printing lithium disilicate restorations—an impressive step forwards, even if the technology isn’t widely accessible yet.

I’m very interested in new developments in FRCs in general. Research from Finland on hybrid FRCs—combining large and small fibres—has showed great promise.¹² Imagine printable FRCs, CAD/CAM blocks or even fibre-reinforced cements. That’s the kind of innovation that I believe will shape the next decade in restorative dentistry.

If you could redesign dental education from scratch, what would you prioritise to prepare students for the future of biomimetic dentistry?
To me, biomimetic restorative dentistry is a fully integrated discipline—and I believe that it should be introduced from day one in dental school. This early exposure is crucial. Take morphology, for example: many students struggle to see its relevance, but when you frame it through the lens of biomimetics, where shape equals function, mechanics and aesthetics, it suddenly makes sense. Biomimetic dentistry is about preserving biology—keeping the pulp alive—then restoring function and finally aesthetics as the cherry on top.

Leaving academia was a big decision for me. I’ve always seen myself as an educator at heart. I eventually left to build something I had dreamed of for years: an ideal learning environment. That’s how Magne Education was born here in Beverly Hills, supported by the partnership and vision of master dental technician Sam Alawie, owner of Beverly Hills Dental Laboratory.

We offer a wide range of programmes in English and Spanish—from online learning through our PRESSroom lecture series to one-on-one distance mentoring through our mentoring programme, where clinicians bring their cases and we work through treatment planning together. We also run an in-person mini-residency called the Continuum—five courses over 15 days—and a more intensive one-week bootcamp for those who can’t travel multiple times. It’s a deep dive into morphology, aesthetics, direct composites, CAD/CAM and more. For me, this is a dream realised: creating a space where we teach dentistry the way it should be taught—starting with the tooth, not the restoration.

What advice would you give to young dentists who want to follow in your footsteps?
To young dentists, be mindful of misinformation, especially on social media. Many still misuse terms like “biomimetic” or confuse old and new concepts. Remember that a concept that teaches you to remove more tooth structure than a classic crown preparation cannot be called biomimetic. Even research can be misleading—clinical data is valuable, but in vitro studies are underrated and often offer deeper insights. You need to get the full picture: always read the whole article, not just the abstract, and evaluate it with a critical mindset.

But most importantly, follow your passion. Find the area of dentistry that excites you and stay focused on it—distraction is the biggest challenge today. Also, don’t do it alone: find a mentor. A good mentor will guide, protect and inspire you. I’ve been blessed with several mentors, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them, Drs Belser, Douglas and Didier Dietschi, and my brother.

I want to finish on a more personal note and give all glory to my ultimate mentor, who taught me humility, forgiveness, compassion and faith while always providing practical and spiritual instructions. He is “the light of the world” (John 8:12).