Dental implant pioneer Richard Johns dies at 96
12 reported
Richard Johns, a pioneer in dental implantology who helped establish the first UK school for implant techniques, has died at age 96. In 1991, he collaborated with Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark to set up the Dental Implant Institute in Sheffield, offering both courses and treatment. Johns served as president of the British Endodontic Society, the British Society for Restorative Dentistry, and the odontological section of the Royal Society of Medicine. He was born in Sutton, Surrey, to Walter and Cynthia Johns, attended St Paul’s school in London, and completed national service as a dental orderly with the RAF in Hong Kong. After studying dentistry at Guy’s hospital and qualifying in 1955, he worked as a house surgeon and part-time registrar before opening his own practice in Orpington, Kent. He later became a full-time lecturer at Guy’s, earned a PhD in 1973, and was appointed professor of restorative dentistry at Sheffield University in 1981. After retiring in 1998, he moved to Winchester, Hampshire, with his wife Pam, who died in 2013. He is survived by five children, 16 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
What’s reported
Richard Johns died at age 96.
He was a pioneer of dental implantology.
In 1991, he co-founded the Dental Implant Institute in Sheffield with Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark.
He was president of the British Endodontic Society, the British Society for Restorative Dentistry, and the odontological section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
He was born in Sutton, Surrey, to Walter (accountant) and Cynthia (secretary).
He attended St Paul’s school in London and served as a dental orderly with the RAF in Hong Kong.
He studied dentistry at Guy’s hospital, qualifying in 1955.
He married Pam Thurgood in 1954; she died in 2013.
He earned a PhD in 1973 and was appointed professor of restorative dentistry at Sheffield University in 1981.
Entrepreneur Sir Ronald Hobson provided financial support to establish the Dental Implant Institute in 1991.
He retired in 1998 and moved to Winchester, Hampshire.
He is survived by five children, 16 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Key figures
Richard Johns, dental implant pioneer
Per-Ingvar Brånemark, Swedish professor
Walter Johns, father and accountant
Cynthia Johns (nee Gamble), mother and secretary
Pam Thurgood, wife and teacher
Sir Ronald Hobson, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Sources: The Guardian
