The Osteology Foundation once again contributed to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Annual Meeting in Toronto. The occasion marked ten years of collaboration between the Osteology Foundation, the AAP, and the AAP Foundation.

On 15 October 2025, the Foundation hosted the joint Regeneration Symposium – “Tissue is the Issue”, bringing together leading experts to share the latest evidence, clinical insights, and innovations in soft- and hard-tissue regeneration.

A Decade of Partnership and Progress

In his opening remarks, Frank Schwarz, President of the Osteology Foundation, reflected on the success of this long-standing partnership and its contribution to advancing regenerative dentistry. Mia Geisinger, President of the AAP, and Lisa Masters, President of the AAP Foundation, also emphasised the importance of this enduring collaboration between the organisations.

The session was moderated by Purnima Kumar and Chris Richardson and drew a large audience despite being part of the pre-congress programme.

“Tissue is the Issue”

Under this theme, speakers presented a series of case-based and scientific lectures covering a wide spectrum of topics in regenerative dentistry:

• Sejal Thacker – Soft-tissue management: the good, the bad, and the ugly
• Anton Sculean – The future of soft-tissue augmentation – new biomaterials and bioengineering solutions
• Sandra Stuhr – Sinus grafting: the good, the bad, and the ugly
• Devorah Schwartz-Arad – Treatment options for the posterior atrophic maxilla
• Shayan Barootchi – Management of extraction sites: the good, the bad, and the ugly
• Gustavo Avila-Ortiz – Management of extraction sites: scientific evidence and clinical translation

The session concluded with a lively panel discussion, moderated by Purnima Kumar and involving all speakers, which stimulated extensive dialogue and the exchange of clinical experiences among participants.

National Osteology Group USA: 2nd Case Competition Final

Later that day, the National Osteology Group (NOG) USA held the final of its 2nd Case Competition, highlighting outstanding clinical cases in regenerative dentistry. Out of 72 submitted cases, six finalists – three in each category – were selected to present their work to the jury, composed of Purnima Kumar, Diego Velasquez, and Gustavo Avila-Ortiz.

Category 1 – Soft tissue or periodontal regeneration around teeth:

• Anamika Khosla
• Kathleen Cloe Mascardo
• David Sabbah

Category 2 – Soft or hard tissue regeneration around implants:

• Thaer Alqadoumi
• Arsalan Danesh
• Alexander Padalino

The winners were Kathleen Cloe Mascardo and Arsalan Danesh. The jury commended all finalists for their clinical excellence and the overall high quality of submissions, which reflected the strong engagement of young clinicians in advancing regenerative techniques.

The Osteology Foundation expressed its sincere thanks to Geistlich Pharma North America for their generous support and sponsorship of the competition, which continues to encourage innovation and excellence among the next generation of clinicians.

Community and Celebration

The busy day concluded with a reception held in collaboration with Geistlich, bringing together young and experienced clinicians from across the Osteology community. Sejal Thacker, leader of the NOG USA, recognised the ambassadors present and expressed appreciation to those who had shown exceptional dedication and activity throughout the year.

Commitment to Education

As part of its educational mission, the Osteology Foundation had provided grants to support periodontal residents attending the AAP Annual Meeting, continuing its commitment to fostering learning and professional development within the global regenerative community.

Learn more about the activities of the National Osteology Group USA here.