Dentistry is medicine: Why oral health drives overall health with Dr. Samir Abou-Ayash (video version)

In this Straumann ProTalk, Prof. Dr. Samir Abou-Ayash explains why dentistry is medicine - directly linked to systemic health, immunity, and wellbeing through oral function like chewing and breathing. He shares key insights from ITI Consensus 2023 on patient-reported outcomes, oral function, and chewing efficiency, including why overdentures can match fixed full-arch results. The episode also explores implant care in aging patients and how digital dentistry - from intraoral scanners to scannable healing abutments - is transforming workflows, while challenges like fragmented systems continue to slow adoption.   00:00 Why dentistry is medicine 06:00 Research that improves patient outcomes 21:40 ITI findings: PROMs and chewing efficiency 27:40 Implants in aging patients 31:20 Overdentures vs fixed solutions 36:30 Digital dentistry game changers 42:30 Barriers to digital workflow adoption 48:30 Engaging the next generation 59:20 Key takeaways