Course Details

Over the years, implant dentistry has evolved from a functionally driven treatment modality to a patient-centered and esthetically driven one.  This change in both clinician and patient treatment perspectives has prompted innovations in our management of the peri-implant hard and soft tissues.  

Although developing the bone foundation remains a critical functional component of dental implant therapy, soft tissue management in these procedures is just as critical for the success of grafting procedures and maintenance of the peri-implant soft tissue architecture in esthetically demanding sites.  Subsequently, the scope of periodontal plastic surgery has been expanded to incorporate soft tissue management around dental implants as well as the natural dentition.  

For clinicians to be clinically proficient in perio-implant plastic surgery, understanding the biological fundamentals of wound healing, incision design and flap management techniques is essential for controlling surgical outcomes and predictability.  The objective of this course is to provide a thorough didactic and hands-on foundation for perio-implant plastic surgery, soft tissue augmentation and advanced micro-surgical suturing techniques in the esthetic zone.

Topics Covered:

•  Fundamentals of periodontal wound healing.
• Understanding the different types of healing observed clinically, especially when encountering sub-optimal results.
• Armamentarium requirements in microsurgery.
• Esthetic zone incision designs for bone and soft tissue augmentation procedures.
• Management of thick and thin tissue biotypes.
• Tunnelling approaches and variations for minimally invasive management of perio-implant defects.
• Tension release methods for flaps and tunneled procedures.
• Advanced suturing techniques with clinically practical indications in hard and soft tissue reconstruction procedures.
• Micro-surgical suturing techniques for SCTG positioning and stabilization around in ridge augmentation procedures.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand wound healing biology and how it affects surgical outcomes.
• Become proficient in incorporating microsurgical techniques in daily practice.