Maintaining the natural dentition remains a key goal in dental therapy. However, the trend has been to remove teeth that could possibly be saved with periodontal therapy, specifically using regenerative technologies. Advances in the development of biomaterials and surgical techniques have significantly changed the prognosis of single and multi-rooted teeth presenting with severe intrabony and furcation defects.

Key issues to increase the rate of success in regenerative periodontal surgery is the choice of the regenerative material and surgical technique along with optimal management of the soft tissues. Different periodontal phenotypes and different defect anatomies require specific regenerative strategies. Advances in the application of minimally invasive surgery has greatly improved the clinical ability to obtain high quality outcomes with reduced patient discomfort. This program will address the application of advanced regenerative procedures to intrabony and furcation defects to increase the probability for tooth retention during a long-term follow-up period

The predictability and long-term success rate of dental implants are well documented in the literature. Nevertheless, complications and failures do occur and can have a significant impact on overall treatment. Peri-implantitis is one of the most common biological complications affecting functional implants. Even though the exact causes of peri-implant diseases is the bacterial biofilm, numerous factors may increase the risk of developing peri-implantitis. Risks may be reduced and even eliminated if some related factors are controlled. This lecture will discuss risk indicators to identify susceptible patients so that a customized treatment plan can be provided for each patient, depending on the relevant needs. Also, it will evaluate common problems encountered with the restorative phase providing an understanding of how and why problems exist and ways to reduce them.

There is mounting evidence regarding the bi-directional link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's Disease. Within the Alzheimer’s Disease research field there is a growing consensus for the need to identify upstream causation events prior to the irreversible pathological changes in the brain. Among the putative mediators are the potential role of translocation to the brain of periodontitis-associated pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, and their products. The basic clinical criteria for Alzheimer’s Disease as well as other common neurodegenerative disorders will be highlighted in this perio-systemic program. The program presentations will cover the current and future therapeutic landscapes and practical adjustments for periodontists when treating individuals with memory and other cognitive disorders.

Program Track: Treatment of Periodontal Diseases and Peri-Implant Diseases 

Course Description: Peri-implantitis is a dental plaque (biofilm)-associated, inflammatory, pathologic condition involving tissues around dental implants. Insight into the immunologic and histopathologic changes occurring during disease progression will be presented. The critical elements in the customization of therapy for peri-implant disease including defect morphology, implant position, and soft tissue characteristics will be discussed. 

The American Academy of Periodontology is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

The AAP cautions participants for this CE activity about the potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures in their practice.

Program Track: Tissue Engineering and Hard Tissue Reconstruction 

Course Description: Maxillary sinus augmentation for posterior maxillary implant reconstruction and guided bone regeneration are often predictable surgical procedures to help facilitate optimal dental implant placement. Although complications are uncommon, some result in total graft failure with potentially serious consequences. Emphasis of this course will be placed on etiology, recognition, and prevention of sinus graft infections and hard tissue reconstruction failures. This clinical presentation will further discuss managing these complications and will include a detailed surgical, CBCT and medical approach to address these unwanted scenarios. 

Program Track: Treatment of Periodontal Diseases and Peri-Implant Diseases

Course Description: In managing the intrabony defects associated with peri-implantitis lesions, the clinician is often faced with tortuous, complex defects. Given that the vast majority of peri-implantitis sites (79%) displayed a combined defect configuration, combination therapy was introduced to treat sites with advanced peri-implantitis. A multiplicity of treatment approaches exists in terms of decontamination, stabilization and regeneration. Both degranulation and implant surface decontamination are essential for successful treatment of periimplantitis. Different approaches to both decontamination and treatment will be explored. This presentation will explore the unique properties of the Erbium wavelength in preparing both the implant surface and the osseous intrabony defect for regenerative therapy. Applicable literature will be reviewed as well as case studies demonstrating case selection, technique and materials. Additionally, implantoplasty, mechanical modification of the implant surface, will be discussed in great detail, both at implant sites where bone regeneration may not be expected (i.e., supracrestally [>1 mm] and buccally exposed implant parts) as well as sites that exhibit regenerative potential. Smoothened implant surfaces have been proven to be less prone to plaque accumulation and thus, re-infection.

The American Academy of Periodontology is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

The AAP cautions participants for this CE activity about the potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures in their practice.

Program Track: Periodontal Plastic and Soft Tissue Surgery

Course Description: Several incision and flap designs (traditional coronally advanced flap (CAF), crestal, lateral and apical tunnel approaches) have been advocated to treat recession and dehiscence defects around teeth and implants. The goal of this point-counterpoint debate is to discuss the pros and cons of each approach and provide clinical tips of how to successfully perform these procedures. Additionally, indications and precautions of each flap design will also be demonstrated and thoroughly debated. Furthermore, the long-term stability of the quantity and quality of the grafted tissue after these procedures will also be presented.

The American Academy of Periodontology is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

The AAP cautions participants for this CE activity about the potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures in their practice.

The practice of minimal and moderate sedation is dynamic and requires continual education to modernize techniques and safely treat an increasingly medically complex patient pool. This program will review essential pharmacology concepts, complications management, patient monitoring, treatment of special populations (pediatric, geriatric, obese) and more while providing the latest updates germane to safe sedation practice. Additionally, this program may assist with meeting requirements for various states’ permit renewal processes.*

*Continuing education credits issued for participation in the CE activities may not apply towards license renewal in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of each participant to verify the CE requirements of his/her licensing or regulatory agency. The AAP cautions participants for this CE activity about the potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures in their practice.

The practice of minimal and moderate sedation is dynamic and requires continual education to modernize techniques and safely treat an increasingly medically complex patient pool. This program will review essential pharmacology concepts, complications management, patient monitoring, treatment of special populations (pediatric, geriatric, obese) and more while providing the latest updates germane to safe sedation practice. Additionally, this program may assist with meeting requirements for various states’ permit renewal processes.*

*Continuing education credits issued for participation in the CE activities may not apply towards license renewal in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of each participant to verify the CE requirements of his/her licensing or regulatory agency. The AAP cautions participants for this CE activity about the potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures in their practice.

Say Hi to AI and join our distinguished speakers as they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the field of periodontics—today and in the future. This session will highlight deep learning applications and their influence across various aspects of clinical practice. Participants will gain insight into AI’s role in diagnosis and treatment planning within both periodontal and implant dentistry practices, along with important medicolegal considerations and emerging future applications.

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.