March 3, 2008

Contact:
Ken Ma
NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5354 Office
954-830-4177 Cell
kennma@nova.edu

Holocaust Survivor Reunites with his former Dentist at Nova Southeastern University

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Holocaust survivor Isador Schleicher reunited with his former dentist at Nova Southeastern University’s North Miami Beach dental facility.

Schleicher, who was imprisoned at a Nazi concentration camp in Lubring, Poland during World War II, was reunited with Lawrence “Bud” Krasne, D.D.S., who is the pre Clinical Director of NSU’s College of Dental Medicine’s North Miami Beach Dental facility. Krasne originally treated Schleicher when the Holocaust survivor arrived in South Florida in 1960.

Schleicher, whose parents were killed in the concentration camp, managed to escape. He eventually made it to South Florida, but his teeth were in bad shape. He had few remaining lower teeth and his prognosis was poor. He eventually found Krasne in North Miami Beach.

After hearing his story of survival, Krasne was determined to help Schleicher retain his few teeth for as long as possible. But dental implants were not an option. Instead, the patient received periodontal therapy, followed by metal copings that were placed over several treated teeth. Those teeth were then joined together by a horizontal metal Hader bar, over which a removable dental appliance was attached.

The use of a lower over-denture appliance served Schleicher well for 30 years. But his supporting teeth finally gave out last year. He needed help. So he went to NSU’s North Miami Beach dental facility, which has 36 chairs. There Schleicher joyfully reunited with Krasne, who immediately assigned and supervised an NSU senior dental student to perform the need restorative dental care that was 30 years in the making.