Summary - Hard Tissue Grafting and Basic Soft Tissue Management in Dental Implant Therapy

COURSE DESCRIPTION

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, patients desire a predictable, long-lasting, esthetic solution. Dental implants have become the standard of care for meeting these needs, but successful implant therapy requires a solid foundation. When teeth are lost due to disease, infection or trauma, bone quality is often compromised. This course will focus on proper planning and execution of predictable bone grafting techniques to restore a patient’s smile and function with dental implants. Principles of soft tissue management around implants, including flap design, suture techniques, use of membranes and papillae maintenance, will also be presented.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand the parameters of true implant success
Review the effects of tooth extraction on bone loss and what socket grafting can do for patients
A “turnkey” review of various biomaterials for grafting situations
Discuss atraumatic extraction techniques
Introduction to three types of sockets and how to graft them
Review basic soft tissue management for incision/flap design and “must-have” suturing techniques
Discuss the vital elements to predictable guided bone regeneration
Choosing a barrier membrane
Discuss the various ridge augmentation modalities and their potential
Discuss the challenges and techniques to overcome vertical bone loss
Introduction to the role of growth factors and L-PRF® to enhance surgical technique and results
Management of common surgical complications
How to avoid creating soft tissue defects during implant surgery
Discuss the importance of soft tissue thickness and biotype around dental implants
How to properly uncover an implant
Discuss the importance of soft tissue development using anatomical healing abutments
Postoperative management
Tips for the dental and business team in your office

Dr. Curry Leavitt

Dr. Curry Leavitt is a native of Las Vegas and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Biology at the University of Utah. He graduated cum laude from Temple University School of Dentistry and completed the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Periodontology program, where he received training in multiple surgical and medical disciplines.

Dr. Leavitt enjoys teaching and has lectured to large groups concerning soft tissue augmentation techniques, digitally guided surgery, ridge augmentation and full arch treatment. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine’s dental GPR program.

Dr. Leavitt is the owner of Red Rock Periodontology and Implantology in Las Vegas, which includes a state-of-the-art teaching center where he hosts regular implant and grafting-related courses.

Dr. David Wong

Dr. David Wong received his undergraduate education and dental training at the University of Oklahoma. He then went on to complete a three-year residency in periodontics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and holds adjunct faculty positions at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry as well as at Penn Dental Medicine. Dr. Wong is a published author in several peer-reviewed dental journals and has lectured extensively throughout the US but has also reached a mainstream audience in media such as Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Wong presently resides in Tulsa with his wife and three children where he maintains a full-time private practice.