News & Events : Press Releases

Zimmer Institute Switzerland Prepares to Open Its Doors

Zimmer Dental, Inc., a leading provider of dental oral rehabilitation products and a subsidiary of Zimmer Holdings, Inc., will open the doors of The Zimmer Institute™ in Winterthur, Switzerland, with courses beginning May 2008. Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), this innovative education facility is modeled after the original Zimmer Institute in Carlsbad, California (USA). The Zimmer Institute Switzerland will support the Zimmer four-level Lifelong Learning Model — merging a renowned educational philosophy with state-of-the-art technology.

Occupying 1,000 square meters, The Zimmer Institute Switzerland houses a Simulated Patient Training Laboratory and auditorium with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, as well as a café, participant changing rooms, conference room, and Zimmer Dental EMEA headquarter offices — creating a learning experience unique to the dental implant and oral rehabilitation industry.

“We are very pleased this exceptional and unique learning experience will now be available to dental professionals in Europe, Middle East and Africa,” noted Harold C. Flynn, Jr., Zimmer Dental President. “It will truly benefit the clinicians and their patients.”

Each simulated patient has oral anatomy that mimics human anatomy with multiple tissue layers, as well as a corresponding medical history and radiographic images. Dental healthcare professionals can attend university-hosted courses at the Simulated Patient Training Laboratory where they can improve their surgical, prosthetic, and restorative techniques through repetition.

“The goal of The Zimmer Institute is to support dental professionals and to instill competence and confidence in their ability to place and restore implants,” said Flynn. “The courses are developed and offered primarily through universities. Instructors develop the courses based on six simulated patients that provide multiple opportunities to practice and fine-tune surgical and restorative techniques.”

Courses available through The Zimmer Institute Switzerland range from basic to advanced as they are crafted to meet the specific needs of the university leading the course. “A university may choose a more fundamental course with simple implant placement and restoration, or one focusing on advanced surgical techniques, like bone grafting or a sinus lift,” explained Flynn.

The inaugural events for The Zimmer Institute Switzerland include a gala opening on March 12, a Beta course and Director Training on March 13, and a special event for Zimmer Dental subsidiary and distributor staff members on March 14.

For more information, call (800) 854-7019, for outside the U.S., (760) 929-4300, or visit our website at www.zimmerdental.com.