I am presently sitting in my hotel room gazing upon the beautiful blue Danube (it isn’t really blue) in Budapest, Hungary. My wife, Ann, returned to NYC yesterday after our nine-day vacation touring Prague and Budapest. Both are beautiful cities rich in history and so welcoming to visitors from abroad. (It’s been a long 2 ½ years for the hospitality industry).

And despite the persistent strains of “The Covid,” as it is referred to here as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine, tourism in these parts has been making a comeback since April.

While the Czech Republic is known for its ubiquitous supply of crafted beers, Hungary boasts of its world-class wines. Needless to say, we did not go thirsty or hungry as we marveled at picturesque sights dating back hundreds of years.

And now, here I am. Alone in a country that shares a border with Ukraine, the reality of what is going on seems so surreal to me (but then again, so does our shared pandemic experience). I’m finally doing what I had been looking forward to with great anticipation for the past three years. I’m participating in an intense five-day hands-on advanced bone grafting/bone and soft tissue regeneration workshop taught by a true master clinician and educator, Dr. Istvan Urban DDS, MD, Ph.D. Here I am with the renowned doctor:

Our trip was planned around my participating in this truly unique educational experience. Twice rescheduled due to Covid and nearly scuttled because of Russia’s aggression, I am here and beyond excited to expand my knowledge and enhance my clinical skills.

I just completed my first day of study, over nine hours of lecture, demonstration, and performance of surgical techniques that will truly enhance my clinical skills. The workshop is everything I had hoped for and more. And this is only Day #1!

When it comes to implant dentistry, the bottom line is this: no bone – no implant. This workshop is about how to regenerate lost and missing bone to make implant placement possible and thus restore a patient with missing teeth or failing dentition back to health and function with a beautiful smile to boot.

How lucky am I?

It’s been forty years since I graduated from dental school, and I feel like a kid in a candy store.

(the view from my hotel room)

Thanks for reading,

Michael