Ricardo Kern / Perio Amigos Advanced Soft Tissue Course (3 Days Hands-On)- October 2027 Los Angeles

About This Course This intensive 3-day continuing education course is designed for general practitioners and specialists who want to expand their understanding, confidence, and surgical skills in soft-tissue management around dental implants. The course focuses on the biologic principles, diagnosis, treatment planning, and surgical techniques required to create and maintain healthy, stable, and esthetic peri-implant soft tissues. Particular emphasis is placed on esthetic-zone reconstruction, where successful implant therapy often depends on the coordinated management of both hard and soft tissues. Rather than teaching isolated procedures, the course is structured around developing a practical decision-making process that helps clinicians determine which soft-tissue procedure, graft type, flap design, and timing are most appropriate for a given clinical situation. What You Will Learn Biology, Diagnosis & Treatment Planning Review the biologic principles that influence peri-implant soft-tissue stability, mucogingival defects, tissue phenotype, vascularity, wound healing, and the relationship between hard- and soft-tissue architecture. Esthetic & Non-Esthetic Soft-Tissue Augmentation Around Implants Learn the principles of gingival augmentation around implants in both esthetic and non-esthetic areas, with an emphasis on developing a clinically useful decision tree for treatment selection. Special attention will be given to the esthetic zone, including the management and reconstruction of: Soft-tissue deficiencies Facial contour deficiencies Implant recession Thin tissue phenotype Lack of keratinized tissue Papilla and interproximal tissue deficiencies Combined hard- and soft-tissue defects Recipient & Donor Site Management Learn how recipient-site preparation, graft selection, vascularity, stabilization, and donor-site management influence surgical outcomes. Harvesting and grafting techniques discussed and practiced will include: Free Gingival Grafts (FGG) Connective Tissue Grafts (CTG) Vascularized Interpositional Periosteal Connective Tissue Grafts (VIP-CTG) Pedicled connective tissue grafts Socket-seal techniques Tuberosity grafts Autogenous soft-tissue grafts Non-autogenous soft-tissue substitutes Donor-site protection and postoperative care Autogenous Tissue vs. Biomaterials Compare the indications, advantages, limitations, and biologic behavior of autogenous soft tissue and alternative biomaterials used for peri-implant soft-tissue augmentation. The course will explore how material selection changes depending on the clinical objective, including: Increasing tissue thickness Increasing keratinized tissue Correcting implant recession Improving ridge contour Reconstructing esthetic-zone deficiencies Supporting tissue during staged or immediate implant therapy Timing of Soft-Tissue Augmentation Review when soft-tissue augmentation may be most beneficial: Prior to implant placement At the time of implant placement During bone augmentation At second-stage surgery Following implant restoration During correction of existing peri-implant esthetic complications Flap Design & Suturing Review flap design, tissue release, graft stabilization, and suturing principles that influence wound stability and vascularity. Topics will include: Flap design and access Split- and full-thickness approaches Flap advancement and release Graft positioning and stabilization Suturing techniques Suture selection Tension-free wound closure Protection of the surgical site during healing Management of Complications Learn how to recognize, prevent, and manage common postoperative complications associated with peri-implant soft-tissue surgery and grafting procedures. Extensive Hands-On Training A major component of this course is hands-on surgical training using pig jaws and surgical models. Over the three days, participants will perform and practice a variety of procedures designed to reproduce common clinical scenarios encountered before, during, and after implant therapy. Hands-on exercises will include: Free gingival grafting Connective tissue grafting Donor-site harvesting techniques Recipient-site preparation Graft preparation, positioning, and stabilization Pedicled graft techniques Suturing techniques Flap design and release Soft-tissue augmentation before implant placement Soft-tissue management during implant and bone-augmentation procedures Techniques for managing peri-implant soft-tissue deficiencies The objective is for participants to leave the course with a stronger understanding of peri-implant soft-tissue biology, surgical decision-making, graft selection, and technique execution, allowing them to approach both routine and complex implant soft-tissue cases with greater confidence and predictability. Continuing Education Participants will receive 24 PACE-approved continuing education credits upon completion of the course. Cancellation & Refund Policy Refunds are available for cancellations made at least 30 days prior to the course date. 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