Throughout the 1980s and '90s, a small core group of clinical scholars played a major and pivotal role in the combined surgical and prosthodontic dissemination of osseointegration scholarship. As professor of oromaxillofacial surgery at the University of Washington, Dr Philip Worthington was one such pioneering educator. His academic leadership was acknowledged via numerous academic honors and tributes, including his recent postretirement recognition as distinguished professor at his university. This invited paper is a personal assessment of the impact of clinical changes ushered in by the osseointegration technique and was recently presented at the University of Washington's unique celebratory tribute to Professor Worthington.