Soft Tissue Regeneration Symposium: Periodontal & Peri-Implant Plastic Surgery

In-Person  |  Vista Institute, Woodland Hills, CA

Course Description

Soft tissue regeneration is essential for managing a variety of periodontal and peri-implant soft tissue defects. These deficiencies may diminish esthetics and affect the stability of periodontal and peri-implant tissues.

A variety of techniques have been developed to address soft tissue deficiencies around teeth and dental implants. This symposium brings together leading experts in soft tissue regeneration to discuss different therapeutic approaches for managing these clinical concerns.

This four-day event includes two days of immersive, evidence-based lectures followed by two days of hands-on workshops led by experienced clinicians. Participants will explore soft tissue augmentation, root coverage, oral plastic surgery, peri-implant tissue management, and advanced reconstruction in the esthetic zone.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Discuss therapeutic approaches such as phenotype modification therapy, keratinized tissue augmentation, and root coverage therapy.
• Review techniques for periodontal and peri-implant plastic surgery, including VISTA, the coronally advanced flap, intrasulcular tunneling, and free gingival grafting.
• Develop strategies for using different sources of autogenous tissue.
• Compare soft tissue substitutes, including acellular dermal matrix and collagen matrix materials.
• Understand the role of biologics in soft tissue regeneration.
• Compare oral plastic surgery with traditional macro-surgical approaches.
• Gain practical experience with soft tissue regeneration therapies through hands-on simulated workshops.

Hands-On Workshop Schedule

Note: full lecture-day schedule for Oct 15–16 to be added once finalized.

Speakers

Vanessa Frazão, DDS, MSD, PhD

Brazilian periodontist and implantologist with a master’s degree in periodontology and a PhD in molecular biochemistry. She coordinates a specialization program in periodontology and directs advanced training in periodontal and peri-implant plastic surgery, with a clinical and academic focus on soft tissue management, mucogingival surgery, and esthetic implant therapy.

Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, DDS, MS, PhD

Board-certified periodontist and Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where he also directs the graduate periodontics program. He earned his DDS and PhD from the University of Granada, Spain, followed by an MS and periodontics certificate from Michigan, and currently serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry.

Anton Sculean, DMD, PhD

Professor and Chairman of the Department of Periodontology and Head of the Dental Research Center at the University of Bern School of Dental Medicine, Switzerland. His research interests span periodontal wound healing, regenerative and plastic-esthetic periodontal therapy, and treatment of peri-implantitis, and he has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and 30 textbook chapters.

Salvador Garcia Valenzuela, DDS

Periodontist and implantologist based in Mexico, and co-founder and academic director of the Perioteam training platform. He has contributed to leading periodontal literature, including as a collaborating author on the textbook TISSUES: Critical Issues in Periodontal and Implant-Related Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and lectures internationally on soft tissue reconstruction and periodontal-orthodontic phenotype modification.

Leandro Chambrone, DDS, PhD

Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontics at Penn Dental Medicine, with additional appointments at Egas Moniz University in Portugal, El Bosque University in Colombia, and the University of Iowa. He is heavily involved in clinical research and evidence-based dentistry, has authored two textbooks on periodontal plastic surgery and implant decision-making, and serves as Section Editor of Clinical Research for the International Journal of Oral Implantology.

Homayoun H. Zadeh, DDS, PhD

Internationally renowned periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery. He served as tenured associate professor of post-doctoral periodontology at USC Ostrow School of Dentistry and completed a PhD in immunology at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Zadeh is the innovator of the VISTA technique for treating gingival recession and has lectured in more than 30 countries.