Elevate - Beyond Dentistry/APEX - Aesthetic Perio Excellence

  • £350 or 3 monthly payments of £116.67

APEX - Aesthetic Perio Excellence

  • Course
  • 29 Lessons
  • 365-day access

APEX – Advanced Perio Excellence is a 28-part online lecture series led by Dr Rob Oretti, created to help clinicians build a deeper understanding of modern periodontal care. With expert-led, evidence-based teaching, the course is designed to improve confidence in diagnosis, treatment planning and delivering high-quality perio care in everyday practice.

Contents

Lecture 1 - Introduction to Restorative Dilemmas & the Restorative Ladder

Course framing; aesthetic outcomes as the end goal; minimum intervention principle; root-to-coronal assessment framework applied to a failed-crown case; three case-based ortho decision examples.

Lecture 1 - Introduction to Restorative Dilemmas & the Restorative Ladder

Lecture 2 - Soft Tissue Assessment Provisionals & Road-Testing Outcomes

Diagnosing soft tissue before replacing crowns; extruded anteriors from cingulum design failure; roadtesting provisionals for phonetics, stops and tissue response; 1-year stable outcome.

Lecture 2 - Soft Tissue Assessment Provisionals & Road-Testing Outcomes

Lecture 3 - Biological Width – Introduction, Anatomy & Clinical Importance

Four normal and four abnormal gingival classifications introduced; 3mm BW compartments (connective tissue + junctional epithelium + sulcus); clinical cases illustrating 3mm vs 2mm bone-to-margin; why invasion must be avoided.

Lecture 3 - Biological Width – Introduction, Anatomy & Clinical Importance

Lecture 4 - Normal Crest, Safe Margin Placement & Biotype Responses to Violation

Normal crest present in 85% of patients; 0.5mm subgingival prep rule; thick biotype (inflammation, hyperplasia) vs thin biotype (recession, attachment loss).

Lecture 4 - Normal Crest, Safe Margin Placement & Biotype Responses to Violation

Lecture 5 - Bone Sounding Technique & the Kois Classification

Bone sounding method with probe kept on tooth surface; Kois 1996 paper; normal crest (3mm), high crest (1–2mm) and low crest (4mm) defined; high crest danger signs including retraction cord sign

Lecture 5 - Bone Sounding Technique & the Kois Classification

Lecture 6 - Low Crest: Stable vs Unstable Tissue, Thin Phenotype & Classification Recap

Stable low crest (long JE, probe not visible) vs unstable (sulcusdominant, probe visible through tissue); thin phenotype clinical signs; provisionals to convert unstable to stable; management recap for all four Kois types.

Lecture 6 - Low Crest: Stable vs Unstable Tissue, Thin Phenotype & Classification Recap

Lecture 7 - Altered Passive Eruption – Definition, Prevalence & the Sickle Probe

APE defined as excess gingiva covering enamel coronal to the CEJ; short clinical crowns; 12% prevalence, twice as common in females; sickle probe technique for CEJ detection introduced.

Lecture 7 - Altered Passive Eruption – Definition, Prevalence & the Sickle Probe

Lecture 8 - APE Classification: Types 1a, 1b, 2a & 2b

Type 1 (adequate KT) vs Type 2 (mucogingival line close to crown); subtype a (bone 3mm from CEJ) vs subtype b (bone at CEJ); treatment per type — gingivectomy, gingivectomy + bone removal, or APF.

Lecture 8 - APE Classification: Types 1a, 1b, 2a & 2b

Lecture 9 - APE Differential Diagnosis: Gummy Smile, Wear Small Teeth & Diagnostic Limits

Hyperactive lip vs APE vs incisal wear vs small teeth; 10.5mm central reference; sickle probe + perioprobe sequence; two contrasting gummy smile cases — one treatable, one untreatable.

Lecture 9 - APE Differential Diagnosis: Gummy Smile, Wear Small Teeth & Diagnostic Limits

Lecture 10 - APE in Practice: Crown Lengthening to Save an Unrestorable Tooth

Tooth referred for extraction; Type 1a APE confirmed; gingivectomy + provisional + 5-month maturation; 10-year stable outcome; restorative ladder principle reinforced.

Lecture 10 - APE in Practice: Crown Lengthening to Save an Unrestorable Tooth

Lecture 11 - Clinical Pitfall 1: Crown Replacement Without Bone Sounding

Crown replaced without diagnosis; assumed 85% normal crest; massive BW invasion confirmed 6 weeks post-fit; corrective flap and interproximal bone removal; BW variation occurs tooth-by-tooth in the same patient.

Lecture 11 - Clinical Pitfall 1: Crown Replacement Without Bone Sounding

Lecture 12 - Clinical Pitfall 2 : Veneers Placed Without Checking Bone Level PostGingivectomy

Gingivectomy for symmetry followed immediately by veneer prep without bone sounding; bone found at CEJ; massive inflammation from BW invasion; corrective bone removal; 5- year result with minor rebound.

Lecture 12 - Clinical Pitfall 2: Veneers Placed Without Checking Bone Level PostGingivectomy

Lecture 13 - APE Surgery: CEJ Marking Gingivectomy Bone Removal & Osteoplasty in Detai

Gummy smile case with bone at CEJ; per-tooth bleeding-point marking; scalpel gingivectomy with papilla definition; raising the flap; osteotomy to 3mm; osteoplasty to contour bone shelf; suturing at CEJ; 6-month result.

Lecture 13 - APE Surgery: CEJ Marking Gingivectomy Bone Removal & Osteoplasty in Detai

Lecture 14 - APE Surgery Cases: Simple Gingivectomy Pre-Ortho Tissue Prep & Diagnosing Inflammation

Second gappy APE case (Type 1a, no bone removal needed); scalpel vs electrosurgery; improved bracket placement post-gingivectomy; third case — differentiating plaqueinduced from BW invasion using bone sounding.

Lecture 14 - APE Surgery Cases: Simple Gingivectomy Pre-Ortho Tissue Prep & Diagnosing Inflammation

Lecture 15 - Type 2 APE & the Apically Repositioned Flap: Preserving Keratinised Tissue

When insufficient KT band prevents gingivectomy; APF technique: splitthickness papillae to maintain blood supply; suturing at base of papilla (not tip) to gain 2.5mm crown length without cutting tissue.

Lecture 15 - Type 2 APE & the Apically Repositioned Flap: Preserving Keratinised Tissue

Lecture 16 - APF Case Example: Bone Removal Papilla Base Suturing & Outcome

APF applied with bone removal; papillae split-thickness preserved; suture tied at papilla base; 2-week result; composite tips for residual wear; black triangle risk if papilla is inadvertently removed.

Lecture 16 - APF Case Example: Bone Removal Papilla Base Suturing & Outcome

Lecture 17 - Gum Level Manipulation: Root Reduction Emergence Profile & Slow Orthodontic Principles

Lowering the gum line via root bulk reduction; emergence profile on implants to push or lower gingival margin; slow ortho allows BW to adapt; rapid intrusion/extrusion concept; root resorption warning with duration limits.

Lecture 17 - Gum Level Manipulation: Root Reduction Emergence Profile & Slow Orthodontic Principles

Lecture 18 - Crown + Ortho Sequencing: Why Anatomical Temporaries Must Come Before Orthodontics

Ortho on non-anatomical crowns creates false tooth positioning; rotated tooth found only after treatment; correct protocol: remove crowns, fit anatomical temps, then move; wedding-deadline case as cautionary lesson.

Lecture 18 - Crown + Ortho Sequencing: Why Anatomical Temporaries Must Come Before Orthodontics

Lecture 19 - Complex Ortho-Restorative Case: Bridges Spacing Deep Bite & Bite Raising

Ill-fitting bridges + spacing + deep bite + gummy smile; anatomical temps first; slow anterior intrusion to close spaces; posterior extrusion to open bite; bite-raising appliance for severe deep bite; incisal wear counselling.

Lecture 19 - Complex Ortho-Restorative Case: Bridges Spacing Deep Bite & Bite Raising

Lecture 20 - Advanced Case: Gummy Smile with Bruxism & Evaluating All Treatment Options

Natalie, 26, bruxism, parafunctional wear, mild Type 1a APE, hyperactive lip; gingivectomy insufficient; lip repositioning risks discussed (asymmetry in one third, 50% relapse); veneers contraindicated; rapid intrusion proposed.

Lecture 20 - Advanced Case: Gummy Smile with Bruxism & Evaluating All Treatment Options

Lecture 21 - Rapid Orthodontic Intrusion: Converting Type 1a to 1b Technique & 17-Year Follow-Up

Rapid intrusion to move CEJ to bone before BW can adapt; isolated intrusion jig for centrals (TADs modern equivalent); 3–5 months; then gingivectomy + bone removal; composite added; 17-year follow-up; lip musculature reduction with age noted.

Lecture 21 - Rapid Orthodontic Intrusion: Converting Type 1a to 1b Technique & 17-Year Follow-Up

Lecture 22 - Restored Teeth & No Overbite: When Rapid Intrusion Is Contraindicated

Four restored veneers, no overbite: intrusion would cause open bite and BW reaction from crown material pushed subgingivally; alternative — levelling + aligning + elective bone removal beyond 3mm; triangular crown profile trade-off; 10-year review.

Lecture 22 - Restored Teeth & No Overbite: When Rapid Intrusion Is Contraindicated

Lecture 23 - Refusing Orthodontics: Aggressive Bone Removal to Reposition the Gum Line

Patient declines ortho; 4–5mm bone removed to raise gum line to upper lip level; provisionals for aesthetic and phonetic check; 5-year review; Emax shine-through on dark root identified as material complication.

Lecture 23 - Refusing Orthodontics: Aggressive Bone Removal to Reposition the Gum Line

Lecture 24 - Non-Vital Teeth: Dark Roots Material Selection Internal Bleaching & CTG Masking

Dark core shine-through with Emax vs zirconia opacity trade-off; walking bleach limitations (50% relapse at 5 years); inside/outside home bleaching protocol; CTG tunnel to thicken gum and mask root; recurring recession cycle management.

Lecture 24 - Non-Vital Teeth: Dark Roots Material Selection Internal Bleaching & CTG Masking

Lecture 25 - Root Coverage: Indications CAF vs Tunnelling & Trapezoidal Flap Design

Root coverage indications; CAF vs tunnelling meta-analysis — operator mastery is the key variable; mathematical flap advancement matching recession depth; composite removal; EDTA 24% and Emdogain protocol; split/full thickness sequence.

Lecture 25 - Root Coverage: Indications, CAF vs Tunnelling & Trapezoidal Flap Design

Lecture 26 - Root Coverage: Releasing the Flap, Muscle Separation & Coronal Advancement

Flap anatomy (periosteum, muscle, buccal mucosa); muscle must be separated from flap to prevent relapse and vestibule loss; coronal advancement; big-square papilla design for predictability; suturing; 6- year stable outcome.

Lecture 26 - Root Coverage: Releasing the Flap, Muscle Separation & Coronal Advancement

Lecture 27 - No-Vertical-Cut Technique: Multiple Recession, Sling Sutures & Soft Tissue Grafts

Cuts converging to canine eliminate vertical scarring; 45° split-thickness blade angle; root cleaning mandatory for reattachment; sling sutures; CTG in enamel concavities to prevent collapse; full-arch approach; integration with simultaneous implant placement.

Lecture 27 - No-Vertical-Cut Technique: Multiple Recession, Sling Sutures & Soft Tissue Grafts

Lecture 28 - Soft Tissue Management Around Implants: Immediate Implant & CTG Protocol

Envelope flap with no vertical cuts; CTG sutured inside buccal flap for thick peri-implant tissue; immediate implant + bone graft + STG; provisional shaped to preserve CTG space; 7-year CT scan follow-up; why STG is always essential around implants; course conclusion.

Lecture 28 - Soft Tissue Management Around Implants: Immediate Implant & CTG Protocol

Exam

APEX Exam