Why Surgery Alone Won’t Cut It

Periodontal and implant patients pose different challenges to the dental team, complicating ways to restore and maintain health, function, and esthetics. As their treatment evolves from single tooth replacement to full-arch rehabilitation, each surgical procedure should include a personalized homecare and maintenance regimen. With more materials and techniques available today, it is increasingly difficult to discern what is most appropriate for each patient. Salivary testing, antibiotic therapy, mouthrinses, and laser therapy may benefit some forms of periodontal and implant therapy but is less effective for others. However, guided biofilm therapy provides a universally better way to preserve teeth and implant restorations with patient-friendly materials and precision technology. This is especially true in cases of periodontal breakdown, where gingival recession, a lack of keratinized mucosa, and/or exposed implant threads make maintenance more challenging. This course will showcase a variety of periodontal and implant surgical workflows, highlighting the importance of maintenance and homecare routines in improving the patient experience and long-term results.