Michael Sonick

Michael Sonick I am an educator, author, mentor and practicing periodontist who loves to help people not patients

I recently had the pleasure of returning to Taipei for the third time to lecture at the Combined Academies of Implant De...
05/29/2026

I recently had the pleasure of returning to Taipei for the third time to lecture at the Combined Academies of Implant Dentistry.

While the scientific program was exceptional, what left the greatest impression on me was the extraordinary hospitality and friendship of Dr. Jerry Lin, a Harvard-trained periodontist, and Dr. Sebastian Tseng, whom I’ve had the privilege of knowing for nearly 26 years.

Despite their incredibly demanding schedules, they dedicated their time to sharing the beauty, culture, and spirit of Taipei with me. From mornings exploring the city to unforgettable evenings filled with incredible food and conversation, every moment reflected their generosity, kindness, and attention to detail.

What made this experience so meaningful was not simply the elegance of the dinners or the beauty of the city, but the genuine warmth and friendship they extended throughout my visit.

Friendships like these are among the greatest gifts our profession provides. Thank you, Jerry and Sebastian, for the memories, hospitality, and continued friendship. I look forward to returning next year.

05/27/2026

Looking forward to presenting our third Soft Tissue Surgery Program with my good friend and long time colleague, Dr. Shankar Iyer.

Shankar and I first met in Mumbai, India in 1997, and over nearly 30 years we’ve shared not only a friendship, but a passion for implant dentistry, soft tissue management, and education. Programs like this are especially meaningful because they bring together the perspectives of both a periodontist and a prosthodontist, each with close to 40 years of implant surgical experience.

This course is designed to be highly practical and clinically relevant, combining strong didactic education with over five hours of hands on training performing soft tissue procedures on pig jaws. We’ll cover flap design, suturing, grafting techniques, peri implant soft tissue management, and the principles behind achieving long term functional and aesthetic success.

Looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned over decades in practice and helping clinicians gain confidence in the art and science of soft tissue surgery. Don’t miss it! Link to sign up on my website

My first clinical article published in DENTISTA focuses on something we don’t discuss enough in dentistry:Failure. And w...
05/18/2026

My first clinical article published in DENTISTA focuses on something we don’t discuss enough in dentistry:

Failure. And what comes after it.

This case features a failed anterior implant and the reconstruction that followed. It reinforces a principle I emphasize in every lecture:

Successful implant dentistry is built on foundational “building blocks” — bone, implant position, soft tissue, and restoration.

When those elements are aligned, outcomes become predictable and aesthetic.
When even one is compromised — especially bone — every step that follows becomes more challenging.

In this case, inadequate bone led to poor implant positioning and an unaesthetic outcome. The solution required removing the implant, rebuilding the site, and reconstructing from the ground up.

Getting it right the first time matters.
Knowing how to rebuild when things go wrong matters just as much.

Grateful for the opportunity to share this journey and these lessons with our European colleagues.

There’s no substitute for hands-on training when it comes to mastering clinical skills. I always enjoy teaching these im...
05/15/2026

There’s no substitute for hands-on training when it comes to mastering clinical skills. I always enjoy teaching these immersive two-day programs. Combining didactic learning with real clinical experience to help practitioners grow with confidence and precision.

Education, mentorship, and patient care all working together.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending two full days at the ZimVie Institute in West Palm Beach teaching surg...
05/13/2026

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending two full days at the ZimVie Institute in West Palm Beach teaching surgical principles to a highly motivated and talented group of dentists from across United States and Canada, including participants from Louisiana, Alabama, Toronto, Montreal, and the Northeast. It was also a pleasure to have an oral surgeon in attendance, adding another valuable perspective to our discussions.

The focus of the program was one of my favorite topics: flap design and suturing—the true alpha and omega of oral surgery. These foundational principles are critical to achieving predictable and esthetic outcomes in both periodontal and implant therapy.

During the course, we explored a wide range of regenerative procedures, including ridge augmentation, guided bone regeneration, soft tissue grafting, and the use of allografts, xenografts, and biologic materials to enhance healing and improve long-term success.

Thank you to the outstanding team at ZimVie Institute (https://www.zimvie.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) for hosting such an exceptional educational experience, and to all of the participants for your enthusiasm, engagement, and commitment to lifelong learning.

Had an incredible day at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine teaching a Maxi Course to a highly motivated, engaged group o...
05/06/2026

Had an incredible day at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine teaching a Maxi Course to a highly motivated, engaged group of dentists.

We spent the day diving into one of my favorite topics, bone regeneration in the esthetic zone, with a clear focus on achieving ideal implant positioning for long term success, function, and esthetics.

What stood out most wasn’t just the clinical discussion, but the energy in the room. Curious minds, thoughtful questions, and a shared commitment to continually improving for the people we serve.

We went strong all day and didn’t wrap until after 5 PM. A true sign of a group that’s all in.

Grateful for the opportunity to teach, learn, and connect.

Fortunate day in the office today.My longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Steven Rothenberg, came in for his quarterly mai...
05/04/2026

Fortunate day in the office today.

My longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Steven Rothenberg, came in for his quarterly maintenance. We’ve shared over 40 years of friendship and collaboration, and I can say without hesitation—he’s one of the finest prosthodontists I’ve ever known.

I’m also a firsthand testament to his work. Nearly 30 years ago, Steve completed my full-mouth rehabilitation, and it has truly stood the test of time. The only adjustment we’ve ever needed came after I took an unfortunate spill over my bike handlebars—definitely not a reflection of his craftsmanship, just my biking skills.

Although Steve retired 4–5 years ago and now holds emeritus status at the Fairfield County Dental Club, I genuinely miss working alongside him. His clinical excellence, integrity, and commitment to comprehensive care set a standard few can match.

Grateful that while our professional relationship has evolved, our friendship remains as strong as ever.

05/01/2026

Have you ever considered having a Chief of Hospitality? 🌸

04/27/2026

Opened the latest issue of the International Journal of Oral implantology last week—and did a double take.

The lead editorial by Dr. Craig Misch echoed many of the same principles from my book, Treating People, Not Patients… and even quoted it.

Craig is not only a phenomenal surgeon, but a true believer in what really matters. connection, trust, and treating people first.

Honored and excited to contribute an upcoming editorial myself.

DentistryWithHeart

What a surprise.Spending two days with Will Guidara at his Unreasonable Hospitality Summit in Nashville would have been ...
04/22/2026

What a surprise.

Spending two days with Will Guidara at his Unreasonable Hospitality Summit in Nashville would have been a birthday present enough.

But when he presented me with a cake baked by his wife, Christina Tosi of Milk Bar fame… that was truly the icing on the cake.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

The opportunity to spend two days learning from someone who is, without question, a master of hospitality, someone who lives it, breathes it, and elevates it, was even better than I expected.

This is what it’s all about.

Bringing these principles back to dentistry, to healthcare, to life.

Address

1047 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT
06824

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12032542006

Website

http://www.sonickdmd.com/, http://www.peoplenotpatients.org/, http://www.sonickseminars.c

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