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The assembly hall of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) fell silent for a few seconds before the panel announced its verdict. Five years of research, hundreds of clinical reviews and a 12-month study with real patients were condensed into that moment. The grade was cum laude: the highest academic distinction possible. This was how the thesis defense of Dr. Platón concluded — a dentist trained at the UIC and a leading figure in implantology in Mallorca.
What does Dr. Platón's thesis study?
The thesis is entitled Stability and changes in the marginal bone level of dental implants placed in preserved and non-preserved sites after tooth extraction. A 12-month clinical study. In simple terms, the research analyses what happens to the bone surrounding an implant depending on whether the alveolar socket — the gap left by the extracted tooth — has been previously treated or not.
When a tooth is extracted, the bone of the jaw or maxilla tends to resorb naturally. Alveolar preservation is the procedure by which the specialist fills that space with graft material immediately after extraction, with the aim of maintaining bone volume and preparing the ground for the future implant. Without this technique, bone loss can compromise the long-term stability of the prosthesis.
Dr. Platón’s study compares both situations — preserved sites versus non-preserved sites — over a 12-month follow-up period, evaluating how the marginal bone level around the implant evolves. The panel members particularly valued the methodological rigour of the clinical design and the practical relevance of the conclusions for clinical decision-making.
What this recognition means for our patients
A cum laude doctorate is not just a title: it is the academic validation that the research contributes new and useful knowledge to the scientific community. For a patient considering a dental implant, this has a direct translation: the specialist who will treat them does not only operate, but also researches, publishes and contributes to the advancement of the discipline.
The question many patients ask themselves before deciding on an implant is whether the bone will hold. The answer depends, to a large extent, on how the moment of extraction is managed and the time prior to implant placement. Dr. Platón’s thesis addresses exactly that concern, providing clinical evidence on which protocol offers greater bone stability in the medium term.
At the clinics in Palma and Manacor, this research-driven approach translates into three values that guide every treatment: closeness to the patient, innovation in protocols and personalisation of each case. Dr. Platón’s research work does not remain in a university drawer; it directly informs the way the Platon Dental team plans and carries out each implantology procedure.
Five years of work that began in the clinic
The research did not emerge from a laboratory detached from clinical reality. Dr. Platón started from a question that any implantologist asks on a daily basis: is it worth preserving the socket before placing the implant, or are the results comparable without that additional intervention? Answering that question with scientific rigour required designing a follow-up protocol, recruiting patients, recording periodic measurements and analysing the data with proven statistical methodology.
The result is a thesis that connects everyday clinical practice with scientific evidence, something the UIC panel recognised with the highest possible grade. For Dr. Platón, the cum laude is also an acknowledgement of the team that accompanied him throughout these five years and of the patients who trusted in the study.
If you have questions about whether an implant is the right option for you, or would like to know more about how each case is planned at Platon Dental, consult with Dr. Platón at our clinics in Palma and Manacor. The research that has just been awarded cum laude is at the service of your smile.