In this webinar, the speaker will present cases with longitudinal follow-up as clinical evidence that, although unpredictable, bone remineralization can be achieved. She will describe laser-assisted protocols for stage III or IV periodontal disease, as well as for diagnosed mucositis or peri-implantitis during the first year of follow-up, in a detailed, step-by-step manner.

Educational videos will demonstrate the speaker's modified manual techniques for more effective subgingival periodontal instrumentation. Additionally, instructional videos will show how to successfully decontaminate and detoxify exposed implant threads using specific equipment, instruments, innovative materials, and antimicrobial products.

It is important to note that while these approaches, including laser therapy, can be beneficial, they should always be considered adjunctive and never used as standalone treatments. Surgical management remains necessary for sites with persistent non-responding probing depths following definitive nonsurgical therapy. When periodontal surgery is contraindicated due to systemic health issues or patient preferences, nonsurgical treatment for severely compromised teeth or implants aims to achieve long-term clinical stability or temporary survival.

Hosted by AAP, in collaboration with SGA Dental Partners

During this three-part webinar series, we will provide best practices and advice for new and recent graduates beginning their career in periodontology. Our speakers will provide guidance on key professional and business considerations that are essential to ensuring your career starts off on the right foot. Discussion topics will include managing a busy clinical schedule, building, and developing a referral network, evaluating employment opportunities, and many more. 

This session offers a comprehensive exploration of bone augmentation, covering its historical evolution, current practices, and future trends. Renowned national and international experts will share their insights and expertise, providing attendees with a well-rounded understanding of this topic. Through a combination of presentations and discussions, participants will gain valuable knowledge that can enhance their clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Tooth retention—keeping natural teeth healthy and functional throughout life—is a strong indicator of good oral and overall health, positively impacting quality of life. It supports proper eating, speaking, and social interaction. While dental implants are often touted as a panacea to address dental diseases through extraction and prosthetic replacement, they are also susceptible to peri-implant disease, which is prevalent, serious, and destructive. Premature extraction, particularly in cases where advanced procedures, such as periodontal regeneration, can help maintain teeth can set patients on a path of peri-implant disease and continued inflammatory burden and tissue destruction. These impacts may be even more critical for individuals with more severe initial disease, including those with Stage III and Stage IV periodontitis. Periodontists should be at the cutting edge to promote what is possible when it comes to saving teeth and the positive impact of maintaining a natural dentition on overall health. Comprehensive patient assessment, control of local and systemic etiologic factors, and identification of sites amenable to periodontal regeneration can enable us to rebuild tissues destroyed by periodontitis and offer increased longevity to the natural dentition. Predictable regenerative outcomes require carefully choreographed therapeutic approaches involving all members of the dental team and ultimately benefits our patients’ oral and overall health. Utilizing interdisciplinary care and advanced surgical techniques to repair and regenerate lost periodontal support around teeth can increase tooth retention and improve systemic outcomes for patients diagnosed with periodontal diseases.

Severe periodontitis (Stages III and IV) is a prevalent condition affecting over 1 billion people in 2021, with a global age-standardized prevalence of 12.50%. It ranks among the most significant Level 4 diseases, contributing to years lived with disability (YLDs). Concurrently, edentulism has a global age-standardized prevalence of 4.11%. By 2050, more than 1.5 billion people (44.32%) are projected to suffer from severe periodontitis, and over 660 million (84.40%) are expected to be edentulous.

Is there a way to change this trend? Can we effectively prevent or treat severe periodontitis, thereby preserving the natural dentition? This webinar aims to address these questions by first examining the prognosis of teeth affected by severe periodontitis, with or without periodontal treatment, and then discussing the evidence-based efficacy of current periodontal treatments in maintaining natural dentition—either through periodontal therapy alone, as seen in most cases of Stage III periodontitis, or through well-planned multidisciplinary treatment in cases of Stage IV periodontitis.