2nd Annual Jack Caton Periodontal Conference

Soft tissue deformities at teeth and implant sites: Etiology, imaging, prevention, and treatment approaches

Featuring Lorenzo Tavelli, DDS, MS, PhD

Date and Location

Friday, October 2nd, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel of Rochester
1111 Jefferson Road
Rochester, NY 14623

Course Synopsis

Several soft tissue deformities affect natural teeth and dental implants. These conditions often result in patients' esthetic concerns but can also negatively affect periodontal and peri-implant tissue stability and health. Scientific evidence has shown that soft tissue phenotype augmentation plays a key role for esthetics, health and patient comfort when treating soft tissue dehiscences/deficiencies around dental implant and also for the treatment of gingival recessions. This lecture will delve into the comprehensive diagnosis and management of gingival recessions, peri-implant tissue dehiscences, and peri-implant diseases, with a particular focus on the anterior zone, where clinical precision, aesthetic demands, and soft tissue preservation are most critical. Emphasis will be placed on different surgical approaches and biomaterials for soft tissue management, particularly at sites requiring minimally invasive, esthetic, and long-lasting outcomes. The critical role of the periodontal and peri-implant phenotype on health and tissue stability will be discussed, together with the importance of the implant prosthetic design in promoting optimal soft tissue healing and stability, reinforcing the synergy between prosthetic planning and surgical execution. Special attention will be given to the concept of the prevention and treatment of implant esthetic complications and deficient papillae, which are raising concerns among clinicians and patients. Cutting-edge diagnostic methods will be introduced, with a particular focus on ultrasonography as a non-invasive, real-time imaging tool for evaluating periodontal and peri-implant phenotype, health vs disease, and surgical outcomes following augmentative procedures.

Learning Objectives

• Review the concept of the periodontal and peri-implant phenotype and their role on the etiology of soft tissue deformities, surgical results, and long-term tissue stability
• Assess the main surgical techniques for root coverage procedures and treatment of peri-implant soft tissue dehiscences and their evolution over time
• Understand how to prevent/reduce the incidence of esthetic and biological complications at implant sites
• Learn the modification required by conventional root coverage procedures when performing soft tissue augmentation around dental implants, and the synergic role of the prosthetic conditioning for the treatment of advanced soft tissue deformities at implant sites

Alumni Dinner

We invite our Alumni, Residents, and Faculty to our post-conference event, the Alumni Dinner, on the same day at 6:00 PM at The Strathallan Rochester Hotel - City View Ballroom (550 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607). This dinner is an excellent opportunity to meet or reconnect with alumni, current residents, and faculty. There is a $160 dinner fee per person.

Contact Us

For more information about the conference, please email us at Melissa_Torpey@URMC.Rochester.edu or call (585) 275-1142