DR CARLOS APARICIO

MD (Summa Cum Laude), DDS, MSc, MSc, DLT, Ph.D. (Summa Cum Laude)

Clínica HB - Hepler Bone

“The best way to progress in zygomatic implant rehabilitation is by joining efforts.”

Dr Carlos Aparicio is the creator of the ZAGA Concept and Philosophy, an innovative systemic approach to the treatment of patients who present a lack of maxillary bone necessary for the fixation of dental implants.

The creation of the ZAGA method made him a well-known global expert in the complex technique of zygomatic implants, which consists of oral rehabilitation in the face of dental loss using prostheses fixed to the jawbone.

Dr Carlos Aparicio’s approach consists of a series of techniques, materials, and action protocols, used by various dental professionals worldwide, and allows for tailoring the surgeons’ activity to the patients’ specific needs and anatomy. Additionally, he is the creator of the ZAGA classification, a cross-sectional survey aimed to study and classify zygomatic implant cases.

Dr. Aparicio's Education and Qualifications

Dr. Carlos Aparicio earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery with Summa Cum Laude from the University of Navarra in 1978. He further pursued his academic interests by obtaining a postgraduate degree in Dentistry from the University of Barcelona in 1983. That same year, he started his career as a Dental Laboratory Technician at Ramon y Cajal School in Barcelona.

In 1984, Dr. Aparicio was awarded a Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the University of Gothenburg under the guidance of Prof. P-I Bränemark. He continued his studies at the University of Barcelona, where he received a Master of Materials Science in 1990. Five years later, he completed his Diploma in Periodontics at the University of Gothenburg, mentored by Profs. Jan Lindhe and Jose Javier Echeverría.

He achieved a Master’s in Biomedical Research from the University of Barcelona in 2010. In 2013, Dr. Aparicio was honored with a PhD in Medicine, graduating Summa Cum Laude with an International Mention. His doctoral thesis, titled “Zygomatic implants: state of the art and criteria for success,” was successfully defended at the University of Barcelona with Profs. Tomas Albrektsson, Jan Lindhe, Xavier Gil, Jose M Suarez, and Mariano Monzo as the juries.

Dr. Aparicio also collaborates as a research fellow with the Handicap Research Group in the Department of Biomaterials at the University of Gothenburg, where Prof. Tomas Albrektsson was his mentor. Additionally, in 2021, he was appointed International Teaching Scholar at Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, USA.

Continued Educational and Career Achievements

Scholarly Contributions:
- Authored multiple scientific papers for prestigious international journals.
- Edited the comprehensive book “Zygomatic Implants: The Anatomy-Guided Approach (ZAGA),” which was translated into numerous major languages (2012).
- In 2023, edited “Advanced Zygomatic Implants: The ZAGA Approach.”
Academic and Professional Service:
- Referee for the European Journal of Oral Implantology and the Journal of Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research.
- Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in England.
- Inducted as an Academic at The Royal European Academy of Doctors in 2016.
Leadership and Recognition:
- Past President of the Osseointegration Foundation of the American Academy of Osseointegration for the years 2003 and 2004.
- Board Member of the European Academy of Osseointegration from 2003 to 2005.
- Chaired the European Association of Osseointegration’s Barcelona meeting in 2007.
- Founder and honorific President of the Spanish Society of Minimally Invasive Dentistry.
Awards and Honors:
- Recipient of the Fonseca Award from the Spanish Society of Periodontics on three occasions.
- Awarded the Simo Virgili Prize by The Catalonian Society of Odonto-Stomatology twice.
Recent Initiatives:
- Established the Zygoma ZAGA Centers Network in 2018 to promote the ZAGA philosophy worldwide.

Global Impact and Ongoing Contributions

Currently, the ZAGA Centers Network spans over 60 clinics worldwide, employing the ZAGA Philosophy to treat patients with severe maxillary atrophy using zygomatic implants. Dr. Aparicio leads the ZAGA Center’s initiative to transform dental patient education and care—Smile 24h online portal. This includes conducting an ongoing Quality of Life Study to comprehensively assess the impact of full-mouth rehabilitation treatments on patients’ lives. Additionally, he presides over the Edentulism Conference, the first-ever scientific meeting dedicated to solutions for edentulous patients.

Moreover, Dr. Aparicio continues contributing to the field as a senior consultant for zygomatic implants at the Hepler Bone Clinic in Barcelona, Spain. He lectures at international conferences and leads theoretical and practical components of ZAGA Courses, sharing his extensive knowledge with dental professionals worldwide.