Osseous Regeneration and Soft Tissue Management: An Inseparable Binomial - Part 1 of 2
For a long time the soft and hard tissue management has been separated. In this conference series, we will present the principal factors for the attainment of results with high quality standards. This will result in long term stability for our restorations with excellent esthetic and functional outcomes.

Posterior Mandibular Reconstruction
Bi-lateral posterior alveolar ridge augmentation for increased width.

Tissue Engineering and Platelet Derived Growth Factors: Evidence Based Therapy
Platelet derived growth factors are now routinely utilized in reconstructive therapy. This presentation describes very detailed and evidence based guidelines for clinicians interested in enhancing their abilities in tissue engineering, especially as it relates to bone augmentation.

Bone Reconstruction: A New Algorithm for the Implantologist
Bone augmentation is often required to place an adequate number of dental implants in ideal positions for prosthetic support. In addition to biomechanical demands bone augmentation can also provide proper ridge contour for improved esthetic outcomes. Disadvantages of bone augmentation techniques include increase morbidity, surgical time, costs and treatment length. As such a trend has develop towards treatment approaches that avoid bone grafting including shorter and narrower implants, angled implants and/or fewer implants for prosthetic support. This presentation will look at various bone augmentation techniques, methods to minimize the morbidity of bone grafting and guide clinicians on implant rehabilitation with grafting versus non-grafting approaches.

Gaining Horizontal and Vertical Bone with Mineralized Bone Particulate, rh-BMP2 and Resorbable Ultrasonic-Applied Rigid Barriers
The use of titanium mesh has been well described, but so has the complications of removal and exposure. Bioresorbable barriers are now available which can be molded into any desired three-dimensional form, creating a rigid and resorbable construct that is secured to to the bone using ultrasonic energy. This unique solution has been successfully used to create the proper environment for both large lateral and vertical ridge augmentations for situations previously only treated with block grafting or distraction. Dr. Cummings will share his experience as well as the key soft tissue techniques that are critical for the success of any large augmentation.

Esthetic Tissue Reconstruction Around Implants - Part 1 of 2
Esthetics in implant-supported restorations is an important clinical objective in contemporary dentistry. Understanding the biological behavior of hard and soft tissues following tooth extraction is the first step to anticipate the physiological tissue remodeling and its consequences. Our objective in these 2 sequencial lectures was to provide straightforward decision trees related to several clinical scenarios observed in routine clinical practice. The 3 fundamental pillars for peri-implant excellence are: restorative-driven implant position, hard and soft tissue reconstruction using different biomaterials and grafts, and prosthetic management. Using this philosophical approach seems to provide esthetic and stable results over time irrespective of the initial clinical condition.

A Novel Drilling Procedure
Courtesy of JOMI

Minimally Invasive Alveolar Ridge Augmentation Procedure (Tunneling Technique) Using rhPDGF-BB in Combination with Three Matrices: A Case Series
This study investigated a minimally invasive surgical procedure for alveolar ridge augmentation that combined recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor BB (rhPDGF-BB) and three different matrices.

Atrophic Posterior Maxillan and Mandible: Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction with Mandibular Block Autografts
Autogenous bone grafts have been used for many years for alveolar ridge augmentation and are still considered to be the gold standard for jaw reconstruction. The use of these grafts with osseointegrated implants was originally discussed by Brånemark et al., who used the iliac crest as the donor site. For repair of most localized alveolar defects, however, bone grafts from the mandible offer advantages over iliac crest grafts. These include the proximity of donor and recipient sites, convenient surgical access, decreased donor site morbidity and decreased cost. This article focuses on posterior maxillary and mandibular osseous augmentation in a staged approach for implant placement. Both horizontal and vertical deficiencies are addressed with the use of symphysis and ramus buccal shelf donor block bone via case presentations.