American Academy of Periodontology Holds Think Tank on Regenerative Treatments

Three-day consensus workshop provides clinical recommendations for treating advanced gum disease

CHICAGO (June 30, 2014) – The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) held its first-ever consensus workshop on regenerative therapies for periodontal disease titled “Enhancing Periodontal Health Through Regenerative Approaches” on June 1-4, 2014, at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. Fifty-two periodontal experts hailing from the United States, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy conducted a systematic review of treatment techniques, culminating in the development of consensus reports and practical applications to aid practitioners in the clinical environment.

Workshop attendees evaluated the latest periodontal studies to determine how findings could be applied in practice settings. Participants also noted priorities for future research. Topics included tissue engineering and the regeneration of bone and gum lost as a result of advanced periodontal disease.

Proceedings from the workshop will be published in the Journal of Periodontology in early 2015 and will include interpretive conclusions and treatment recommendations derived from each systematic review. The reports will also feature evidence-based summaries for various clinical cases and implications for patient-reported outcomes. Practical applications reports will act as a guide for dental professionals as they assess treatment options for their patients. The practical applications reports will be published in Clinical Advances in Periodontics in early 2015.

The workshop was spearheaded by an AAP-designated organizing committee, co-chaired by William Giannobile, DDS, MS, DMSc, and Pamela McClain, DDS. The AAP Foundation, Colgate, the Osteology Foundation, and Geistlich provided support of the workshop’s programming.

The AAP regularly organizes consensus workshops on issues surrounding the science and practice of periodontics. Past sessions include the 2010 Workshop on Inflammation and a 2012 joint session with the European Federation of Periodontology on periodontal disease and systemic diseases.

About the American Academy of Periodontology:

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for periodontists – specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also dentistry’s experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. They receive three additional years of specialized training following dental school, and periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAP has 8,000 members world-wide.