2025 Winter Meeting Speakers

January 31 - February 02, 2025

Dallas Marriott Las Colinas
223 West Las Colinas Boulevard
Irving, Texas 75039

Diego Velásquez, DDS, MSD

Diego Velásquez, DDS, MSD is a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana School of Dentistry, Colombia. He was awarded an Ambassadorial Scholarship by The Rotary Foundation that allowed him to complete his postdoctoral training in Prosthodontics and Dental Materials at Indiana University School of Dentistry where he also received a Masters degree in Science of Dentistry. He went on to complete a residency in Periodontics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Velasquez works in private practice in Fenton, Michigan and is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Dentistry of The University of Michigan. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and is currently an Associate Editor of Clinical Advances in Periodontics, a member of the peer review panel of the Journal of Periodontology, and a consultant of The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. He is part of the Expert Council of The Osteology Foundation, has published a number of articles on prosthodontics, periodontics, microsurgery, and dental implant related topics and has lectured nationally and internationally. He is the co-editor of the book titled “Microsurgery in Periodontal and Implant Dentistry - Concepts and Applications”.Dr. Velasquez is a recipient of the prestigious “Dr. and Mrs. Gerald M. Kramer Scholarship for Excellence” award of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. His private practice based research activity has been recognized by the American Academy of Periodontology by receiving The Clinical Research Award in 2017 and 2021. He is past president of the Midwest Society of Periodontology, Michigan Periodontal Association and the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships: None

Minimally Invasive Surgical Regenerative Therapy in Periodontics: A Microsurgical Approach

Abstract

The expression “the pendulum is swinging back” from replacing to saving teeth is often repeated, and yet the question remains: are we prepared to meet this challenge? While human ingenuity has risen to unprecedented heights with respect to the quality of surgical and prosthetic work geared towards replacing teeth, a healthy natural dentition remains a source of admiration, personal pride, and a reflection of overall wellbeing. It is also true that destruction associated with peri-implant disease can be more rapid and create more destruction than periodontal diseases around teeth. For these reasons, coordinated, interdisciplinary care to retain teeth in function and regenerate lost tissues provides an immeasurable benefit to patients. The question then arises: what is possible when it comes to saving teeth and what does it take to get there? Identification of sites amenable to periodontal regeneration and utilization of modern surgical treatment modalities, including minimally invasive surgery allow us to rebuild the natural tissues that were destroyed by periodontitis. To predictably regenerate lost tissues requires a carefully choreographed therapeutic approach involving all members of the dental team that ultimately benefits the patient. Utilizing interdisciplinary care, optimizing restorative and occlusal outcomes, and implementing minimally invasive surgical treatments leveraging microsurgical principles and techniques can result in less morbidity and higher probabilities of success in maintaining natural teeth. This presentation will showcase the rationale behind minimally invasive procedures in regenerative periodontal therapy by illustrating clinical cases in a wide scope of applications and the roles of restorative and microsurgical care in success.

Learning Objectives

• Review the historic background in regenerative periodontal therapy and minimally invasive procedures
• Understand the physiologic events that take place and the anatomical features that frame regenerative healing in periodontal therapy.
• Identify common mistakes made during regenerative procedures.
• Recognize the importance of magnification and illumination within the microsurgical approach and its role in setting patients up for predictable success.

Teaching Method: Lecture

David Cross, DDS

J. David Cross, D.D.S. has been in private practice for over 34 years and practiced Microsurgery for over 24 years. He has been personally trained at the Microsurgical Training Institute under Dr. Dennis Shanelec and a member of the Microsurgical study club DENTORATI. Dr. Cross has been published in three international textbooks on Microsurgery. Also he has taught Microsurgery in the U.S.A., Japan and Europe. He continues to teach at the postgraduate Periodontics program at LSU and in Budapest at the Urban Regeneration Institute.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships: None.

Periodontal and Implant Microsurgery

Abstract

The presentation will discuss the application and techniques of the surgical microscope and advanced magnification in the treatment of periodontal and implant procedures. Including Dr. Shanelec's The SMILE Technique.

Learning Objectives

• Microsurgical Procedures in periodontics and Implant Therapy
• Specific microsurgical techniques
• Image sand videos demonstrating microsurgery

Teaching Method: Lecture