EFP Focused Workshop explores aesthetics and patient-reported outcomes in periodontology and implant dentistry

The EFP hosted its Focused workshop on aesthetics and patient-reported outcomes in periodontology and implant dentistry from 19 to 21 January 2025, in Florence, Italy. This innovative workshop was the first in periodontology and implant dentistry to focus on the patient’s perception of the result of surgical interventions to improve the soft tissue situation around teeth and implants, rather than relying merely on professionally assessed clinical outcomes. It was designed by the EFP in collaboration with two of the largest EFP national societies, the Italian (SIdP) and Spanish (Sepa) societies of periodontology, to lay the methodological foundations for a major S3-level EFP clinical practice guideline scheduled for development in 2026. The workshop was sponsored by Curasept and Klockner.

Why aesthetics and patient-reported outcomes?

The focus on aesthetics and patient-reported outcomes reflects a paradigm shift in periodontology and implant dentistry. "Over the last two to three decades, a wealth of research has explored surgical procedures for soft tissue reconstruction around teeth and implants," said David Herrera, chair of the focused workshop. "Today, treatments are increasingly designed to prioritise patient satisfaction alongside clinical success. Integrating aesthetics with patient-centered care requires balancing clinical benefits, patient expectations, and long-term outcomes. This workshop channelled the enthusiasm surrounding aesthetic-focused procedures while minimising patient morbidity."

Herrera emphasised the importance of this initiative for clinical practice: " The EFP wants to provide clinicians with clear, evidence-based recommendations in its clinical practice guidelines (CPG), to achieve high patient satisfaction while ensuring the long-term stability and efficacy of treatments. This workshop represents a significant step toward integrating patient-centred care into the core of periodontology and implant dentistry." Unlike the broader European workshops organised by the EFP since 1993, the focused workshop format allows for an intensive, targeted approach on a narrower topic. "With 10 reviewers, 20 experts, and representatives from EFP and the host societies (SIdP and Sepa), the smaller scale ensures deeper discussions and more actionable outcomes that will help drive CPG development in the next year. On the other hand, the involvement of national societies ensures a broader perspective and enhanced the quality of discussions”, emphasized Herrera.

EFP president Moritz Kebschull highlighted the significance of this initiative: "Workshops like these are instrumental in shaping the future of our field. This is the first time that we work with member societies on a focused workshop, and it has proved to be a very positive experience.  By addressing the critical question of patient-reported outcomes in the development of clinical, evidence-based recommendations, the EFP and its members continue to drive progress that enhances both clinical practice and patient satisfaction, and, crucially, improves the formal quality of our guidelines, leading to better impact on healthcare policies."

The workshop addressed crucial areas, including:

• Root coverage procedures for single and multiple recessions.
• Treatment of soft tissue dehiscences at implant sites.
• Reconstruction modalities for soft tissues in post-extractive and delayed implant settings.

"We debated surgical soft tissue treatments, such as flaps and grafts, and compared them to replacement biomaterials," remarked José Nart, workshop coordinator representing Sepa. "The discussions linked clinical evidence with the opinion of our patients, a crucial connection that will contribute to the development of high-level guidelines that clinicians can use in their daily practice."

Bringing value to daily clinical practice

The outcomes of the workshop promise to benefit clinicians by supporting the development of future evidence-based recommendations for selecting surgical treatments that maximise patient satisfaction. "Soft tissue grafting and replacement biomaterials were evaluated not only for their efficacy but also for cost-effectiveness and post-operative morbidity. This will offer a clear scenario for addressing aesthetic concerns”, explained Francesco Cairo, workshop coordinator representing SIdP

The findings will culminate in a consensus report to be published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology and in Periodontology 2000," Herrera explained.

Kebschull concluded that "this focused workshop brought together leading experts to critically analyse the evidence, both professionally assessed and reported by patients, and to share valuable insights, providing clinicians with the tools to achieve predictable results in modern soft tissue reconstruction. With the right diagnosis and learning curve, highly predictable outcomes are possible, but treatment decisions must ultimately prioritise patient perceptions and priorities – this is something the EFP takes seriously in our world-leading clinical practice guideline developments”. Following this, David Herrera highlighted that “we aimed to define outcomes that can guide the development of a clinical practice guideline in 2026."

The EFP focused workshop on aesthetics and patient-reported outcomes promises to set new standards in periodontology and implant dentistry, paving the way for improved patient care and satisfaction.