American Academy of Periodontology holds think tank on regenerative treatments

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.RELATED READING |Celebrate 100 years of periodontology in San Francisco

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.

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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.

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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.

For more information about the American Academy of Periodontology, visit their website.