Part-time faculty member and USCSD doctoral dental graduate Panaghiotis Bazos and his wife, Magdalini, returned to his native Greece in early August to take lessons learned at USC in esthetic dentistry and dental technology back to his homeland.
Bazos, who graduated from USCSD’s DDS program in 2000, spent the past three years working with Pascal Magne, director of the school’s esthetic dentistry program, studying, as well as teaching, the school’s biomimentic restorative approach to esthetics in dentistry. In addition to participating in the Faculty Esthetic Update series, Bazos taught the selective in esthetic dentistry and worked on various research projects.
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| From Left: Pascal Magne, Panaghiotis Bazos and Michel Magne | photo: Phil Channing |
Most recently, Bazos worked with Michel Magne, director of the school’s Center for Dental Technology (CDT).
“As a USC dental graduate, it is common knowledge that we have a traditional affinity towards the laboratory and technical aspects of dentistry,” Bazos says. “Curiosity was the driving force that attracted my attention to the CDT.”
There, Bazos says, he learned how to “see” differently, gaining a different perception of perspective and form. “Most people who are not trained in drawing do not acquire the ability to see things in depth, that is, to be aware of perspective in looking at things.”
Bazos also gained an appreciation for the close partnership the dentist and dental technology must play in the profession.
“One can only hope to be able to pursue dentistry in such a unique environment as the Center for Dental Technology and at such a high level of excellence,” Bazos says. “But I’ve realized that it is ideal with a dental practice and a laboratory co-exist within the same environment. This happens to be the most efficient and effective way for establishing proper communication between the dental team.”
He and Magdalini, a trained dental technologist, hope to recreate that collaboration when they re-establish their dental practice and laboratory in Aigion, near the Gulf of Corinth in central Greece.