On 14 May 2025, the Osteology Foundation and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) hosted a high-level joint session at EuroPerio11 in Vienna. Held in Plenary Hall C, the event drew over 3,000 participants, making it the biggest session the Osteology Foundation has ever organised. Six leading experts shared the stage to present perspectives on how to advance regenerative treatment—from initial diagnostics to clinical decisions made under pressure.

From left to right in the backstage: Giovanni Zucchelli (Italy), Tali Chackartchi (Israel), Otto Zuhr (Germany), Isabella Rocchietta (Italy), Rony Jung (Switzerland) and Istvan Urban (Hungary)

Moderated by Tali Chackartchi and Ronald Jung, the session featured presentations by Istvan Urban, Isabella Rocchietta, Giovanni Zucchelli, and Otto Zuhr. Each speaker walked the audience through a complex regenerative case, focusing not only on clinical challenges but also on the personal and professional limits they encountered—openly admitting what aspects of the case made them nervous.

The session opened with Istvan Urban, widely recognised for his surgical mastery. Before presenting a spectacular case of vertical bone augmentation using his renowned sausage technique, he candidly shared the respect and careful consideration he gave to the risks involved. Despite his extensive experience, he acknowledged the natural apprehension that complex cases can bring—and demonstrated how he managed this nervousness to deliver outstanding results.

Next, Isabella Rocchietta delivered perhaps the strongest statement of the session, addressing the emotional boundaries of treatment: “We need to know when to step back. Saying no requires honesty and putting ego aside—for the patient’s benefit. Trying without certainty is morally unacceptable. If I’m not good enough, I will refer to someone who is.”

Giovanni Zucchelli followed with a particularly demanding clinical scenario of soft tissue regeneration in the aesthetic zone, noting that “the proximity between tooth and implant is one of the most critical situations for soft tissue regeneration.

Closing the presentation series, Otto Zuhr reminded the audience of the importance of patient-centred care: “You have to balance the treatment decision with the individual patient’s quality of life. We have to take treatment decisions on eye level with the patient.” He also highlighted that long-term success depends equally on three pillars—evidence-based knowledge, sound decision-making, and skilled manual execution—and that neglecting any one of these undermines the entire treatment process.

During the discussion round that followed the presentations, Tali Chackartchi offered a concluding reflection on clinical decision-making: “We have to understand the biology of the tissues to understand and know the limitations.” Her comment reinforced the session’s overarching message—acknowledging boundaries is essential to achieving long-term success in regenerative treatment.

With more than 3,000 participants in attendance, the session became the largest event the Osteology Foundation has ever organised—an impressive milestone that reflects the global relevance of the topic and the strength of this collaboration.

The session not only showcased the depth of interdisciplinary expertise between the two organisations but also gave attendees a front-row seat to thought-provoking discussions and state-of-the-art regenerative techniques.

As the session drew to a close, Ronald Jung reflected on its impact, affirming that his initial promise of a transformative experience for the attendees was fully justified by the depth and honesty of the discussions.

The Osteology Foundation is grateful to the EFP for its long-term collaboration and already looks forward to the International Osteology Symposium 2026, where the EFP will also be one of the educational partners and contribute to a session in collaboration with the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).