Course Synopsis

Soft tissue around dental implants is valued more today than even the bone. Once an implant is osseointegrated and in function, the peri-implant mucosa is critical for aesthetic, functional and long-term health outcomes. In modern implantology we want attached keratinized tissue of adequate thickness which can provide the best biological seal against implant disease but also volume stable to maintain the mucosal margins. In this course we deep dive into the latest knowledge on the peri-implant mucosa, its importance and long-term biological behavior. We then go through various procedures to maintain or improve the peri-implant mucosa around dental implants during the 5 critical soft tissue management timings. The course has a heavy focus on split thickness flaps and the use of autologous tissue grafts.

Learning Outcomes

· Identify the different time points for soft tissue augmentation to improve the dental implant outcome.

· Develop surgical skills to develop soft tissue prior to implant placement, at the time of implant placement and surgical uncover.

· Develop natural emergence profiles around implants and appreciate the importance of critical and subcritical restorative contour or EBC.

· Advanced surgical techniques for implants in the aesthetic zone.

· Extensive hands on clinical training on implant models and pig jaws performing procedures such as:

· Roll flaps

· Apically repositioned flaps

· Palacci flaps

· Poncho Techniques

· Split finger flaps

· CTG pedicle flaps

· Aesthetic tunnel approaches

· Iceberg techniques

· Modified Tinti flaps

· Kazanjian vestibuloplasty