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Laudatio, to our beloved
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mentor, Professor Rudolf
Slavicek
Rudolf Slavicek, a mentor of “modern gnathology” worldwide stays active
in postgraduate education. His first scientific formation as a medical
doctor (Doctor of Medicine in 1954) was followed by numerous others: his
education in dentistry (certified in 1957), his post-graduation in Restorative
Dentistry and Prosthetics (1958), in Orthodontics (1958-1960), but also by
his passion for anatomy, anthropology, and biomechanics. This extremely
broad knowledge was acquired in Vienna, Austria between 1946 (year of
his baccalaureate) and 1960. On this solid foundation, he would build a
professional career extraordinarily rich in innovations.
Between 1960 and 1975 he completed his knowledge by reading and meeting
the great international authors in the field of oral dysfunctions. For instance,
he worked with Arne G. Lauritzen, Harry C. Lundeen … Along his private
dental practice in Vienna, he developed a career as a professor-researcher
during which he would demonstrate that the association between broad
culture, intelligence, and willingness to share, generates extremely creative
results that will significantly influence the dentistry of the late twentieth century.
The scientist
Among many publications and innovations, some major topics can be highlighted:
- From anterior guidance to mandibular control
In 1982, Rudolf Slavicek presented a very extensive research work combining morphological, cephalometric,
and axiographic analyses. He obtained his PhD habilitation and published his work in a first book entitled
“Die funktionellen Determinanten des Kauorgans”, Verlag Zahnärtzlich-Medizinisches Schrifttum München
– 1984. He studied the angles of the guiding inclination of the maxillary teeth. From this work on, he would
largely improve the concept of canine guidance by inventing sequential guidance, functional freedom angle,
retrusive control. He is the one who proposes to replace the term anterior guide by the term anterior control.
- Cephalometry
As early as the 1980s, he developed the concept of occlusal analysis superimposing cephalometric, axiographic
and occlusal data following the same axis-orbital reference plane to combine sagittal condylar inclination and
the inclination of the occlusal plane inclination and calculate cusp inclinations. This concept is materialized in
CADIAS software.
- Articulator
At the same time, Rudolf Slavicek collaborated with a new company in Munich (SAM) to develop an
articulator between semi and fully adaptable. The SAM Articulator incorporates curvilinear condylar boxes
and curvilinear Bennett inserts. Later he developed a new concept of condylar articulator guidance based on
a hinge-axis concept which was materialized in the Reference articulator system (Gamma, Klosterneuburg,
Austria).
- Axiography
It is due to the simplification of axiography that Rudolf Slavicek is known internationally. This simplification
was possible based on his work together with mathematician Peter Lugner on axio-pantographic principles.
Originating in George G. Campion (1902), Gysi, Lee, Lundeen, SAM's axiograph system records condylar
translations by eliminating condylar rotations. Rudolf Slavicek was then able to develop a method of diagnostic
analysis of intracapsular TMJ disorders. In the 90s, the mechanical axiographic would evolve with the
Stomatology Edu Journal 5
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development of the electronic condylography (CADIAX) developed by the Gamma company managed by his
son Christian Slavicek.
- Cybernetic
As a mature scientist, having dominated the mechanical aspects, Rudolf Slavicek was able to gain depth and
integrate his occlusofunctional concept into the broader framework of the patient's global organism. This is
materialized in the cybernetic concept of the masticatory organ published in his book “Das Kauorgan”, “The
Masticatory Organ” published in 2002. Consequently, Rudolf Slavicek is an resolute advocate of intra- and
interdisciplinary dentistry.
Recently, Professor Slavicek published a new three-part book, “Concepts in Oral Medicine” (2016) which
presents many facts and documentation on the treatment of patient cases along the lines of the Vienna School
of Interdisciplinary Dentistry (VieSID). In 2008, he was appointed to a new peer-reviewed journal, International
Journal of Stomatology & Occlusion Medicine (IJSOM), as a motivator and promoter for colleagues around the
world, to publish their work as a forum for communication and discussion. He published hundreds of articles.
He has been lecturing around the world since the 1970s. His research and articles set the standard for clinical
studies in dentistry.
The teacher
His career as a member of the academia began in 1975 as an assistant at the Vienna Institute of Medicine. As
of 1978, he was an Associate Professor, Head of the Prosthodontic Department at the Dental School of the
University of Vienna. Since 1987, he has been Professor and Director of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontic
Department, and between 1992 and 1997 he was Dean of the Dental Faculty of Vienna. He would leave the
university in 1998 by inviting all his close colleagues to Vienna in a memorable farewell seminar. Yet, it was not
an end, but a new beginning for a new teaching career at the Danube University in Krems. He founded the
Center for Diagnosis and Therapy of Craniomandibular Functional Disorders in Vienna and he became Head
of the Center for Interdisciplinary Dentistry at the Danube University, where he initiated a specialist master in
oral functions-dysfunctions, as Professor Emeritus at the Danube University – Krems. His scientific research
on TMJ dysfunctions (condylography), combined with cephalometrics, provides the articulator and clinical
diagnosis which is unique in the world. He is the founder and mentor of the Vienna School of Interdisciplinary
Dentistry in Vienna (VieSID). For many years, the training programs offered by VieSID have been followed by
a large number of colleagues from many countries around the world. He has created a real “Vienna School”
in dentistry. At the same time, in 2006 he created, first in Krems and then in Vienna, the famous “Summer
School” where every year, in July, his alumni meet; the fourteenth session is scheduled for July 2019. This event,
currently gathering about 300 participants from 4 continents, has become a cult event of an impressive scientific
level in the warm atmosphere of a real family.
The man
We know nothing about Rudolf Slavicek if we miss to highlight his human qualities beside his scientific level
as he skillfully combines these two facets. When you have seen Rudolf Slavicek speak to his patients, teach his
students, talk to his colleagues, lead an event, interact with his family members, have a smiling face for all people,
you could understand the charisma that he emanates. His empathy, his attention to the others, the simplicity
that he demonstrates towards everybody impress you forever. This is the indisputable mark of the great ones.
.
Jean-Daniel ORTHLIEB, DDS, PhD, Professor
Chairperson, Vice-Dean
Department of Function-Dysfunction, Imaging, Biomaterials
Faculty of Odontology, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
Associate Editor
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25241/stomaeduj.2019.6(1).letter.1
6 Stoma Edu J. 2019;6(1): 5-6. http://www.stomaeduj.com