It is with great humility and thanks that I begin my year as the President of such a focused and tenacious group of professionals. Our efforts using direct gold take a little bit longer and cost a little bit more, but the longer lasting and more permanent nature of our dental restorations are undeniable in study after study. In my lecture two years ago in Greifswald, Germany I spoke of the nucleosynthesis in the fusion of the gold atom nucleus as occurring in our universe and the necessary heat of fusion only present in something like an exploding star supernova event.

We take this raw element in its purest 24K form and create ultra thin sheets at times so thin even light may pass through… using it to artistically adorn cathedrals, government buildings, and yes, even cold fusing it to restore and mimic human enamel.

A number of accredited dental schools should be acknowledged as their Deans and Department Heads continue to educate the next generation of dental students in this time-honored discipline.

Our AAGFO Honor Roll having sponsored annual training and operations:
University of Florida, Indiana University, University of Michigan, University of Washington, University of British Columbia, University of Nebraska, University of Oregon, University of Mississippi, University of Minnesota, Navy Base Pearl Harbor CINCPACFLT, UCLA, and Dalhousie University. 

Dr David Bridgeman, our immediate past President, notes increasing numbers of younger dedicated professionals seeking a higher form of dental restorative training. He, as do I, honor the past keepers of the flame of knowledge. We do stand on the shoulders of giants.

The US Navy in their Bethesda outpost of training sees fit to foster study club work mentored by Dr. Eric Morrison: They dutifully maintain the sitting Presidents state of overall health as well as dental health. It is a truism that Gold work, both cast and direct, is indeed, “the present-day gold standard” … for excellence in our profession.

I would be remiss not to mention AAGFO generational connections in the Henrys, the Bridgeman family, the Morrisons, the Tuckers; and, a half century ago my own father Dr. Hunter A. Brinker served this Academy as president of the AAGFO (1975-1976). 

Finally, I would like to list as a future goal to reach out to the pediatric dental community to consider restoring in a more permanent fashion the few adult teeth they manage.  They already do so much in interceptive ortho, jaw development, rampant disease control and patient management.

Certainly, thanks to our Gold Leaf editor Dr. Al LaPorta and immediate past editor Dr. Dan Henry, as well as webmaster Dr. Dave Thorburn and past Dr. Scott Barrett, and our Secretary Treasurer Dr. Eric Morrison.

I wish for a bright future for this academy. I am eternally grateful for the chance to serve.

Professionally,

RBB

“We are stardust 
We are golden 
And we’ve got to get ourselves 
Back to the garden.”

—Joni Mitchell, Woodstock