Humanitarian service: Dr Rosenberg brings over 300 smiles to Easter Island

Winner of the award in the Humanitarian Service category, Dr Rosenberg has provided charitable service in several countries in Latin America, his most notable project being on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. As it is one of the world’s most isolated inhabited territories, many members of its community are faced with limited access to dental care and severe financial restrictions.

Leading a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, prosthodontists, dental technicians and volunteers, Dr Rosenberg has provided free implant treatment to 337 patients in need, nearly half of whom received full-arch restorations on the day of surgery. To date, close to 1,000 implants have been placed by Dr Rosenberg and his team, transforming lives in one of the world’s most remote communities. The Easter Island project began in 2018 in partnership with Dr Kenji Higuchi, an award-winning oral and maxillofacial surgeon from the US who has since retired from practice.

Dr Rosenberg was among the earliest practitioners to introduce osseointegrated implants to Latin America, helping establish the foundation of modern implant treatment in the region. He trained under Prof. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, with whom he co-authored two books. More information and videos on Dr Rosenberg’s Easter Island project, including personal patient stories, can be seen on the Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation’s website and Nobel Biocare’s YouTube channel.

Integration of basic research and clinical application: Dr Zipprich has translated multiple technological concepts

Dr Zipprich, who received the award in the category of Contemporary Innovation and Discovery, is a recognised researcher in implant interface mechanics and materials science. He first gained recognition at Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany for pioneering imaging of micro-movements at implant–abutment interfaces, improving understanding of implant stability and connection design.

Building upon his academic success, he went on to translate scientific discovery into real-world clinical innovations and is named on a remarkable 240 published patents and patent applications. His notable contributions include the trioval geometry of the Nobel Biocare N1 implant system. The company states that the trioval implant neck reduces stress on cortical bone and promotes osseointegration and that the trioval conical connection allows abutments to slide into place and form a strong and tight connection. He also helped develop an electrochemical method for the intra-oral decontamination of implants to facilitate the management of peri-implantitis, as well as sand-blasted, acid-etched implant surface technology for ceramic implants. The award honours Dr Zipprich’s achievements in elevating scientific discovery into today’s clinical practice, helping to continue advancements in implant dentistry.