In-Person & Remote

Course Description

Orthodontic therapy—particularly with Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT)—has revolutionized dentistry, enabling clinicians to optimize tooth position for enhanced esthetics, restorative access, and implant site development. However, tooth movement without careful monitoring of root position and periodontal support, may result in undesirable sequelae such as alveolar bone dehiscence, gingival recession, and marginal bone loss. Whether delivered through close collaboration between specialists or through comprehensive approach by a single clinician, this course provides a systematic workflow for integrating orthodontic and periodontal therapy in adult patients. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills to plan and execute both digital orthodontic treatment and periodontal plastic surgery that achieves both functional stability and esthetic harmony. Clear Aligner Therapy introduces intuitive digital tools for root position optimization, offering a powerful adjunct to periodontal and implant therapy. When applied strategically, these tools enable clinicians to manage patients with pre-existing gingival recession or those at risk of recession during orthodontic treatment—helping to prevent adverse periodontal outcomes and enhance long-term soft-tissue health. This two-day immersive program, unites orthodontic and periodontal principles into a truly synergistic model of care. Through engaging lectures, in-depth clinical case presentations, and detailed workflow demonstrations, participants will learn to preserve and augment soft-tissue and bony architecturethroughout periodontal plastic surgery while optimizing root position with orthodontic therapy. The course also reviews the treatment sequencing of orthodontic and periodontal interventions, emphasizing phenotype modification therapy, which includes both soft-tissue and bone augmentation to achieve biologically sound, esthet, and long-lasting outcomes.

Educational Objectives

• Recognize the role of soft-tissue & bone phenotype modification for periodontal health during orthodontic treatment
• Identify and prevent complications associated with aligner therapy
• Learn integrated digital and surgical workflows for predictable regenerative and esthetic outcomes
• Apply interdisciplinary principles to achieve long-term stability and patient satisfaction

Speakers

Dr. Chris Chang

Dr. Chris Chang is the founder of Beethoven Orthodontic Center and Newton’s A Inc. in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He received his PhD in Bone Physiology and Certificate in Orthodontics from Indiana University. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and an active member of Angle Society-Midwest. Dr. Chang is the publisher of Journal of Digital Orthodontics and has authored and co-authored many orthodontic books, including Orthodontics Vols. 1-6, as well as Words of Wisdom, Jobsology and Trumpology. He is the inventor of OrthoBoneScrew(OBS®).

Homa Zadeh, DDS, PhD

Dr. Homa Zadeh is the Director of the VISTA Institute for Therapeutic Innovations, an AO-authorized training center. A diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery, Dr. Zadeh has over 28 years of academic experience at USC, where he served as Director of the Postdoctoral Periodontology Program. Internationally recognized for his expertise, he has lectured in more than 40 countries and published over 100 scientific works. He is the innovator of the VISTA technique and holds multiple patents for surgical techniques and devices widely adopted in clinical practice. Dr. Zadeh maintains a private practice in Southern California.

Course Schedule

Day 1 – Saturday, May 30, 2026

Morning Session (Homa Zadeh)

• Significant of Periodontal (gingival & alveolar bone) phenotype modification to enhance periodontal stability during orthodontic therap
• Ortho-Perio Synergy: Orthodontic tools & techniques to enhance periodontal outcomes
• Understanding biological limits of orthodontic tooth movement
• Managing risk factors for gingival recession during aligner therapy

Afternoon Session (Chris Chang-Joined by Zoom):

• Mechanics of clear aligner therapy
• Orthodontic protocols to enhance periodontal outcome
• Orthodontic management of gummy smil
• Application of TAD screws in orthodontic therapy

Day 2 Sunday, May 31, 2026:

Morning Session (Homa Zadeh)

• The VISTA approach for managing soft tissue and bone deficiencies
• Case presentations and treatment planning strategie
• Integrating aligner and surgical phases in complex cases
• Sequencing orthodontic, surgical, and restorative phases

Afternoon Hands-On Workshop and Digital Integration

• Step-by-step VISTA application for recession coverage
• Soft-tissue phenotype modification combined with orthodontic treatment
• Suturing and biomaterial selection for optimal healing and stabilit
• Digital planning using CBCT and intraoral scanning for Clear Aligner workflows
• Simulation exercises and faculty feedback