What if a simple change in surgical technique could transform healing?

As part of the current Oral Regeneration Topic “Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapy,” Rino Burkhardt was interviewed by Albert Chen to share the story behind his landmark study, “Coverage of Localized Gingival Recessions: Comparison of Micro- and Macrosurgical Technique,” which challenged traditional methods and reshaped the way we think about soft tissue healing.

In the interview, Burkhardt discusses how microsurgical techniques improve blood perfusion, speed up recovery, and influence long-term outcomes. He also reflects on the challenges of designing the study, the innovative use of angiography, and why deliberate, hands-on training is just as important as the surgical tools themselves.

Join them and explore the science behind precision and healing.

Anina Zürcher spoke with Mark Bartold, the first author of our key publication, "Molecular and cell biology of the gingiva." With over 420 citations, this paper has made a significant impact on the field of oral regeneration. 

In the interview, Bartold explains the roles of different cells—like fibroblasts, immune cells, and epithelial cells—in tissue health, inflammation, healing, and periodontal regeneration. He also highlights the difference between regeneration and reconstruction and why understanding the tissues and molecular pathways involved is key to achieving predictable outcomes.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with William V. Giannobile, interviewed by Sejal Thacker, as he reflects on his key publication, Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates bone fill and rate of attachment level gain. Giannobile discusses the groundbreaking development of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their pivotal role in oral tissue regeneration. He traces PDGF's journey from discovery to clinical application, sharing insights into the science, trials and regulatory steps that brought this innovation to patients. From early tissue culture studies to regenerative therapies for periodontal disease, Giannobile details the research process and rigorous trials required to develop safe and effective treatments. This is a must for anyone interested in the latest developments in oral tissue regeneration!

For the current Oral Regeneration Topic "Interdisciplinary strategies in dentistry", Jeniffer Perussolo spoke with Karin Jepsen, the first author of our key publication "The effect of timing of orthodontic therapy on the outcomes of regenerative periodontal surgery in patients with stage IV periodontitis".  In this discussion, you'll discover the benefits of combining orthodontic therapy with periodontal surgery.

According to Jepsen, when treating stage IV periodontitis, orthodontic therapy can be initiated as early as four weeks after regenerative surgery, with favourable outcomes and shorter overall treatment time. She outlines the prerequisites for this approach and discusses the future prospects for interdisciplinary treatment.

For the current Oral Regeneration Topic "Digital Technologies in Oral Regeneration", Mia Geisinger spoke with Giulio Rasperini, first author of our key publication "3D-printed bioresorbable scaffold for periodontal repair". In this interview, you will learn more about the potential uses of bioprinting in periodontal regeneration. 

According to Rasperini, saving a tooth is more than just protecting the patient's living tissue – it's a worthwhile effort. In his quest to preserve teeth, he has explored tissue engineering methods for reconstructing complex structures like the periodontium. Printed biomaterials represent promising tools, offering customisation for size, configuration, and architecture of a specific defect. Rasperini expects that future research will shed more light on bioprinting in periodontal regeneration, leading to personalised treatment plans and improved long-term patient outcomes.

For the current Oral Regeneration Topic, Luca Gobbato spoke with Jan Cosyn, first author of our key publication on "Immediate Implant Placement". In this interview, you'll learn about the main key take aways of the 10-year prospective study, which offers valuable insights into the long-term outcomes of immediate placed implants. ​

For this Oral Regeneration Topic, Lorenzo Tavelli spoke with Martina Stefanini, first author of our key publication on the management of peri-implant soft tissue defects. It aimed to describe an approach to restore a buccal soft tissue dehiscence combined with the loss of the peri-implant papillae and loss of periodontal attachment on the adjacent teeth. 

In the interview, Stefanini reveals how the focus of implant dentistry has shifted from bone to soft-tissue management over the years, and she describes the increased aesthetical awareness of patients and clinicians during the prosthetic rehabilitation of implant placement. While working with a surgical guide, ensuring sufficient soft-tissue thickness and using a connective tissue graft are her holy grails when placing an implant in the aesthetic zone. Stefanini reveals even deeper knowledge and crucial details that lead her to a successful clinical and aesthetical outcome.

For the current Oral Regeneration Topic Nikolaos Tatarakis spoke with Bjarni Pjetursson and his key publication on Sinus Augmentation. It aimed to systematically review the outcome of sinus floor elevation and the survival of implants inserted in combination with sinus floor elevation. In the interview, Pjetursson also reveals what has changed clinically since the study was published and how this would affect the study design today. Other interesting points Pjetursson raises are the much-discussed clinical practice of using a membrane over the sinus window, the graft material and whether or not to use a graft.  

For the current Oral Regeneration Topic Jia-Hui Fu spoke with Daniel Thoma and his key publication on Soft Tissue Augmentation/Thickening. It aimed to test whether soft tissue augmentation with a newly developed collagen matrix (CM) leads to volume gain in chronic ridge defects, similar to those obtained by an autogenous subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG).

The interview begins with the surprising fact that Thoma is actually primarily trained in prosthodontics and implant dentistry, and he only started to realise the importance of soft tissue when he had to restore implants. As he said, 20 years ago implants were all about bone, and it was only over time that the realisation that a good amount of soft tissue was associated with a good aesthetic outcome took hold. After years of using the autogenous soft tissue, he became interested in alternatives to the latter to increase patient comfort. 

The study by Istvan Urban and his co-authors is a key-publication on Vertical Ridge Augmentation. It aimed to evaluate the results of vertical guided bone regeneration (GBR) with particulated bone graft material, and the long term success of implants placed in the regenerated bone.

Isabella Rocchietta talked to Istvan Urban about this retrospective study online on 28 April 2021. Unfortunately, a personal meeting was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They discussed about how Istvan Urban started to become interested in Vertical Ridge Augmentation procedures, the cases that were included in the study and which impact it had on the further development of the treatment of Vertical Ridge Augmentation. They also talked about which mentors and experts influenced Istvan during the early years of his career while developing his technique, as well as the advice he has for the future generation.