Dr. Christian Monti
• Graduated in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics from the University of Milan.
• Visiting Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.
• Active Member of IAO (Italian Academy of Osseointegration).
• Active member of AISOD (Italian Association of Sedation Dentists) and “Expert in intravenous sedation in dentistry”.
• SSO member (Swiss Society of Dentistry and Stomatology).
• Founder and past-president of MINEC Switzerland (MegaGen International Network of Education & Clinical Research).
• Practices as a freelance in Como and Ticino (CH) with particular interest in oral and implant surgery and Digital Dentistry.
Good morning, Dr. Monti, and thank you for agreeing to participate in this interview. When did you first come into contact with the world of the Digital Dentistry Society? And why did you decide to be part of it?
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the Swiss DDS embassy and the activities we organise.
Personally, I came into contact with the world of the Digital Dentistry Society about 5 years ago, driven by the desire to explore the potential of digital in dentistry. I am also lucky enough to have as friends some of the founders of DDS, such as Prof. Carlo Mangano, Prof. Francesco Mangano and Prof. Giuseppe Luongo, who are true pioneers and innovators in our dental sector. Their clinical and research experience has allowed DDS to organise international symposia of the highest scientific level, with the best experts in the world, over the years. The choice to join the DDS and actively engage was, therefore, natural because, first of all, I found myself in a family of friends and colleagues who I highly respect.
Can you tell us what you do on a daily basis, clinically and as an educator? What relationship do you have with digital technologies?
My clinical practice is almost exclusively dedicated to oral surgery and implant prosthetics. I had a great teacher, Prof. Tiziano Testori, who I followed for over 10 years in his professional practice in Como and who gave me the surgical passion and the knowledge and skills to be able to deal with simple and complex cases. I have learned that the planning and diagnostic phases are fundamental factors for the success of a therapy, whether on natural teeth or implants. The patient must be evaluated at 360 degrees, and nowadays, digital technologies are key. Let’s think about the key role that CBCT has in a full-arch rehabilitation on implants or in aesthetic cases, both for the planning phase and for the surgery, that can be run guided. However, the clinician cannot ignore the knowledge of basic sciences, biology first and foremost. Digital technology is, therefore, a great help for the clinician, to reduce invasiveness and increase precision in all phases of treatment. I try to transfer these concepts during the implantology courses that I organise in some locations in Europe.
When and how was the DDS Swiss Embassy born?
The Swiss Embassy was born in 2020 with the aim of bringing together all digital dentistry enthusiasts present in the Swiss Confederation. For logistical and organisational reasons, we started from the Italian part of Switzerland, the Canton of Ticino, where I work and have collaborated for many years.
I gathered a group of colleagues and founded the Swiss Embassy, which in a short time reached and exceeded 40 active members. There are currently three of us representing Switzerland on the International DDS Board: Prof. Murali Srinivaasan from Zurich, the dental technician Marco Del Prete from Mendrisio, and me. I would like to underline the importance of the dental technician world in the Digital Dentistry Society as it represents an essential part of the dental team. The digital workflow inevitably passes through the work of the dental technician, who needs to stay updated in this constant digital revolution.
The Swiss Embassy is one of the most active in the DDS, not only for the high number of active members but also for the numerous events organised over the years. Can you tell us the history of the Embassy and summarise the activities carried out in recent years?
The role of the DDS ambassador is to gather all the energies present in the area and transform them into concrete projects that are at the service of the entire dental community. With this spirit, over the years I have managed to organise important cultural events, generally one every year, with the participation of internationally renowned speakers from the main universities in Switzerland and abroad. In order to spread digital culture as much as possible, I have chosen to collaborate with the most important dental association in Switzerland, the SSO. Together, we managed to create a training path that led to the creation of highly appreciated and well-attended international events with the involvement of several companies as sponsors. I remember, in particular, the Bellinzona conference in 2021 and the one on Monte Generoso last May 2023.
“The role of the DDS ambassador is to gather all the energies present in the area and transform them into concrete projects.”
On 20 April 2024, you have an important event scheduled in Lugano, in the prestigious location of the LAC Museum: do you want to talk to us about the event program, the speakers, the idea you developed to make it unforgettable?
The DDS Switzerland congress will take place on 20 April 2024 in the splendid setting of Lake Lugano. For this year, I have chosen an exclusive venue, the LAC Center, which generally hosts high-level art exhibitions and theatrical and musical performances. The program is very rich, and the topics covered will be different, with prestigious speakers. We will talk about perio-implantology, management of bone defects, ceramic implants, guided surgery and additive vs. subtractive technology in prosthetics. I will be engaged in a live surgery, where I will show the advantages of the digital in modern implantology. Finally, I wanted to carve out a space to dedicate to “Smiles in the history of art”, a lectio magistralis by Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi, a well-known Italian art critic. A successful event requires attention to every detail. For this reason, the lunch break will host a Michelin-star chef, Mauro Elli. I would like to thank the SSO Ticino for the collaboration and all the sponsors that are supporting our event.
So far, you have held several very successful events in the Italian part of Switzerland. Are you planning events also in the German or French areas of the Swiss Confederation?
I am working for the two-year period 2025–2026 to organise two congresses in internal Switzerland. The digital challenge has no borders and, therefore, it will be my task to make the DDS known to colleagues in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. The ideas are there; it’s still early to talk about locations and dates, but the path is already mapped out.
It’s also important to interact with current and potential patients across social media platforms and apps such as TikTok, SnapChat, Instagram and YouTube to increase awareness. In a survey we conducted, 90% of patients agreed that the My Invisalign app has helped them stay on track during their Invisalign treatment [5]. A solid digital and online presence plays a significant part in appealing to this patient age group. Investing ahead of time helps to meet their expectations.
Thank you, Christian, for sharing your insights and experiences as DDS Ambassador. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you during this interview.
You’re welcome! Thanks for this opportunity.