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Reshaping clinical practice through evidence-based, patient-centred guidelines

From left: Director of graduate periodontics at the University of Michigan Prof. Hom-Lay Wang, European Association for Osseointegration and Osteology Foundation board member Prof. Frank Schwarz, ITI President Dr Charlotte Stilwell and European Association for Osseointegration President Prof. Ronald Jung. (Image: Osteology Foundation))
Osteology Foundation

Osteology Foundation

Mon. 28. October 2024

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MILAN, Italy: The annual meeting of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) was held in Milan last week, and one of the highlights of the event was the announcement of the Global Consensus for Clinical Guidelines (GCCG). A joint project of the EAO, International Team for Implantology (ITI) and Osteology Foundation, the GCCG aims to establish clinical guidelines for the treatment of the edentulous maxilla and integrates feedback from clinicians, researchers, patients and other stakeholders to enhance patient outcomes.

The GCCG represents an innovative, evidence-based approach to consensus building in implant dentistry, Profs. Frank Schwarz and Hom-Lay Wang, scientific leaders and co-initiators of the project, explained at a press conference. Engaging a broad spectrum of international experts, patients and other stakeholders, the initiative contrasts with more traditional consensus conferences by aiming to create clinical workflows that are straightforward and practical and that improve outcomes for clinicians and patients alike. 

Defining standards for restoring the edentulous maxilla

The first GCCG is focused on the rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla, towards the improvement of patients’ quality of life. By focusing on real-world application, it aims to equip clinicians with actionable, evidence-driven guidelines.  

Prof. Schwarz emphasised the importance of integrating patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives in the GCCG, stating: “Our guidelines aim to be clinically effective and reflective of patients’ needs, ensuring that our recommendations enhance treatments and ultimately improve patients’ lives.” 

He explained: “Therefore, at the core of the GCCG’s methodology are patient-reported outcome measures and clinician-reported outcome measures, evaluated through systematic reviews. What also makes the GCCG unique is that comprehensive feedback is gathered via tailored Delphi surveys that have been distributed to a substantial number of clinicians, patients and public stakeholders. We have undertaken these extensive efforts to incorporate a wide range of perspectives. The results from these reviews, surveys and associated meta-analysis then form the basis for formulating the actual clinical guidelines, ensuring their clinical relevance and practicality.” 

A global collaborative effort

The GCCG draws expertise from around the world, seeking to make the guidelines applicable in various cultural and clinical contexts. “This is not just about developing another set of guidelines; this is about reshaping how we approach clinical practice in implantology,” explained Prof. Wang. He added: “By bringing together voices from all over the world and including both clinicians and patients, we are creating a global framework that will have a lasting impact on the way we care for patients.” 

Many traditional consensus conferences only have a regional impact and do not achieve global recognition and clinical relevance. The GCCG is aimed at overcoming this by involving contributors and associations from around the world. The efforts will culminate in a consensus conference to be held in June 2025 in Boston in the US, where over 120 international experts will discuss and formulate the first global guidelines for the treatment of the edentulous maxilla. 

Joining forces to advance clinical practice

Representatives of the EAO, ITI and Osteology Foundation were present at the press conference, where Prof. Ronald Jung, EAO president and a co-initiator of the GCCG, underlined the advantages of the initiative’s collaborative approach, noting: “The strength of the GCCG lies in its ability to unite experts from around the world and create guidelines that will benefit clinicians and patients alike. We are striving to make sure that these guidelines will be useful across different clinical environments, ensuring better treatment outcomes for patients facing the challenges of edentulism.” 

In support of this goal, ITI President Dr Charlotte Stilwell added: “The ITI is proud to support the GCCG because it aligns with our mission of promoting the highest standards of clinical practice. We believe that, by integrating patient feedback and focusing on evidence-based solutions, the GCCG will deliver guidelines that have a tangible impact on improving patient care.” 

Commenting on behalf of the president of the Osteology Foundation, Dr Christer Dahlin, Prof. Schwarz highlighted how the initiative supports the organisation’s goals: “The GCCG aligns perfectly with the Osteology Foundation’s focus on oral regeneration and its mission to ultimately improve patient care. Our joint aim in this collaboration is to create clinical guidelines that directly translate into better treatments for patients.” 

Representatives of the three organisations concluded the press conference with a strong message of unity and a forward-looking vision and emphasised that their alliance could act as a starting point for further collaborative efforts and serve as a stepping stone for additional activities. “Discussions are already ongoing,” they said.

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