Dr. Gerald A. Niznick is a pioneer of Dental Implantology. He has received 33 U.S. patents in the field including the internal connection patent that has become the cornerstone of modern implant design. Barron's Magazine referred to Dr. Niznick as "a prosthodontist and entrepreneur who is considered by many as the godfather of American implant dentistry."

Dr. Niznick graduated from the University Of Manitoba College Of Dentistry in 1966. Following a year of post-graduate training at USC, he earned a master’s degree in prosthodontics at Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1969. Dr. Niznick began his dental practice in Los Angeles and shortly thereafter began a 10 year search for a reliable dental implant system.  By 1982, he had developed and patented the Core-Vent System, which by 1990 was the most widely used dental implant system in the world. Dr. Niznick personally trained over 10,000 dentists around the world in lectures and live surgical demonstrations. In 1989, the Canadian Dental Journal appropriately saluted his accomplishments in an interview entitled "A Canadian Who Made a Difference".

Awards and Honours

Gerald Niznick's revolutionary contribution to the advancement of implant dentistry have been recognized nationally and internationally by academic institutions and dental implant organizations. He is the recipient of Honorary Doctorate degrees from the University of Manitoba in 2002 and Tel Aviv University in 2003. Among his prestigious professional awards is the Isaah Lew Research award from the American Academy of Implants, Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity’s highest honor, the Achievement Medal, and a Commendation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for conceiving and funding a clinical study that encompassed treatment of over 900 patients with about 3000 implants. Special issues of the Journal of Periodontology and the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery were dedicated to publishing the results of this monumental prospective, multi-center clinical study, which added significantly to dental implant knowledge.

Entrepreneur and Business Leader

Dr. Gerald Niznick was the founder and President of Core-Vent Bio-Engineering in 1982 which, after acquisition in 2001, became Zimmer Dental. The Screw-Vent internal hex implant that Dr. Niznick invented in 1986 is still the backbone of Zimmer's Dental’s implant product line 27 years later.

Dr. Niznick formed a new dental implant company, called Implant Direct, in 2004 and launched his new line of implant products in October 2006. In just four years, Implant Direct had a significant global presence in the implant industry with 300 employees, sales offices in the US, Canada, Switzerland and Israel, and with distributors in 30 other countries. Dr. Niznick's product and marketing strategy of selling high quality, innovative products with “All-in-1 Packaging” at about 1/3rd the price of the major implant companies, resulted in doubling the sales volume that Core-Vent had achieved after 20 years. Through Dr. Niznick's implementation of the industry's only lights-out 24/7 manufacturing and effective use of the internet for technical support and online ordering, he created a price-point shift in the industry, making implant dentistry more affordable for dentists and their patients.

In December 2010, Sybron Dental Solutions, a division of Danaher, a 20 billion dollar conglomerate, acquired 75% interest in Implant Direct, leaving Dr. Niznick as the president of a joint venture. After doubling sales by 2013, Dr. Niznick retired and sold his remaining interest to Sybron. In addition to dental implants, Dr. Niznick’s interest in aviation led him to acquire ownership of Acromil Aerospace Company in 2003. Today it is a major supplier of complex structural parts to Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop and several sub-suppliers of Airbus. (www.acromil.com)

Philanthropist

Dr. Gerald Niznick’s commitment to dental care and education has continued through his generous support of dental schools in North America and Israel. He serves on numerous Boards of Directors including Hebrew University (1995-2010), Tel Aviv University 2988-present), University of Manitoba USA Foundation Board (2008-present) and Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging (1995-present).

Dr. Niznick’s latest project is supporting the partnership between JNF Canada and ALEH C.A.R.E.S., Israel’s largest Network of Care for Children with Severe Multiple Disabilities. Together with the Manitoba Chapter of Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, they are funding the construction of a new Dental Clinic for children and young adults with special needs, serious mobility issues and complex health conditions in Israel.

Family and Hobbies

Gerald (Jerry) has been married to Reesa (Golumbia) for 54 years. They have two daughters and 6 grandchildren. Jerry is an avid golfer, rides a Harley motorcycle and has earned a multi-engine, commercial pilot’s license.