Dr. Leonard I. Linkow graduated in 1952 from NYU College of Dentistry and soon after began pioneering the modern field of implant dentistry. He developed and introduced to the profession many different implant systems and transformed them into elegant and practical realities.

Dr. Linkow placed his first implant prosthesis, a complete unilateral subperiosteal implant to support a posterior unilateral fixed restoration, weeks after his graduation from dental school. He wrote his first implant article in 1953 in Dental Digest Magazine. From that time to the present day, Linkow has dedicated his life to furthering the cause of dental implantology.

Linkow International Institute of Oral Implantology. St. Petersburg, Russia.

Dr. Linkow began worldwide journeys to spread his knowledge and passion for dental implantology through lectures and/or surgery. He has been feted in many of the worlds great cities – Milan, Rome, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo, Moscow, Frankfurt and Zurich. Among the many honors he has received are the Thomas P. Hinman Medallion in 1972 and the Aaron Gershkoff Memorial Award in 1974. He was knighted by the government of Malta in 1974 and honored by the government of Cyprus in 1979.

Dr. Linkow has authored multiple textbooks on oral implantology. Each of these books have been prefaced with words of admiration from other respected leaders in the field such as Peter K. Thomas, Gustav Dahl, Dennis Tarnow, Ole Jenson, Carl Misch, and many more. In 1989, NYU created the first endowed chair in implantology in perpetuity with Dr. Linkow as the recipient.

Linkow International Institute of Oral Implantology. Bari, Italy.

Dental societies, dental institutes, dental study clubs and university departments often named Dr. Linkow their honorary president. Dr. Linkow is considered by his colleagues throughout the world as the father of modern implantology. Three institutes were named after Dr. Linkow, including The Linkow International Institute of Oral Implantology in Bari, Italy; The Linkow International Institute of Oral Implantology in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Linkow Implant Institute-Carribbean in Kingston, Jamaica.

This website contains lectures, references, useful links related to Dr. Linkow's work, and much more. Its goal is to make this information available to implantologists around the world to study, to learn, and enjoy.

The material on this site was donated by Dr. Leonard I. Linkow, who dedicates this contribution to Judy, the Love of his Life

Further information

"A tribute to Dr Leonard I. Linkow: A guiding light" by Dr. David L. Hoexter, DMD, FICD, Editor in Chief; Dental Tribune International. December 22, 2010.