Commentary

Dr Melvin R. Lund is a professor emeritus in Operative Dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry, where he served as chair of the Department of Operative Dentistry for 14 years. Prior to that, he was a founding faculty member at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and served as chair of their Department of Restorative Dentistry for 13 years. He has published numerous textbooks and papers and lectured both nationally and internationally during his career and has received many honors and awards for his contributions to our discipline. He continues to teach part-time and is an examiner for the American Board of Operative Dentistry.

Dr Lund has been actively involved in the teaching and practice of Operative Dentistry for more than 60 years and is eminently qualified to address the current state of Operative Dentistry Education and its impact on the future of dental practice. I gladly go on record as sharing his concerns regarding the diminishing role and status of Operative Dentistry in today's curriculum. Everyone associated with the teaching and practice of Operative Dentistry procedures should share these concerns and become actively involved in returning the discipline to its appropriate level of importance.