Soft tissue grafting procedures are considered an integral part of implant therapy and various techniques and materials are applied at different time-points. Whereas autogenous transplants are still widely used, they are associated with major disadvantages, most prominently the associated surgical morbidity. More recently, several soft tissue substitutes have been developed and some of them demonstrate favorable clinical success and less morbidity. This workshop will focus on the clinical decision tree and include step-by-step procedures for the above-mentioned clinical interventions based on recent clinical and scientific evidence.

The gold standard treatment for soft tissue volume regeneration involves the harvesting of autologous connective tissue, usually from the palate. Harvesting of this connective tissue can be somewhat technically challenging, is associated with intra- and post-operative morbidities (i.e., pain, bleeding, and risk of infection), and prolongs surgery time. Geistlich Fibro-Gide® is a novel volume-stable xenogeneic biomaterial designed specifically for soft tissue volume augmentation; offering a convenient alternative to the autogenous tissue option.

Professor Thoma has been heavily involved in the clinical testing of xenogeneic collagen for the purpose of soft tissue management.  To learn more about Geistlich Fibro-Gide® and how it can be incorporated into your management of soft tissues around natural teeth and dental implants, register to attend the upcoming hands-on workshop presented by Professor Thoma; a leading expert in the exciting and rapidly developing field of regenerative medicine. Spots to this in-demand workshop are limited.

This three-hour hands-on workshop which will include a didactic component followed by hands-on exercises on pig jaws.

The didactic component of the workshop will cover:

• Connective tissue grafts – review
• Conception, development and properties of Geistlich Fibro-Gide®
• Clinical application of Geistlich Fibro-Gide®
• Prevention and management of complications
• Tips and tricks to ensure optimal clinical outcomes

The hands-on component (on pig jaws) will cover:

• Pig jaws and Stoma surgical instrumentation
• Flap design considerations – split thickness and full thickness
• Customising Geistlich Fibro-Gide® to the defect dimensions
• Application of Geistlich Fibro-Gide®
• Achieving tension-free primary wound closure
• Suturing techniques