Seminar
Florence
23 - 24 Apr 2026
English

The Furcation Dilemma: A 2-Day Advanced Seminar by Pierpaolo Cortellini. "Comfort" option

Pierpaolo Cortellini
Course details
Lecturers
Venue
ADA CERP

Program

 

An exclusive, in-depth seminar dedicated to one of the most relevant and complex topics in modern dentistry — the diagnosis and treatment of molars with furcation involvement.

 

Despite advances in periodontology, the “furcation dilemma” remains an unresolved clinical concern. Over the course of this program, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of both non-surgical and surgical treatment strategies, with a focus on diagnosis, case planning, and treatment selection.

 

Led by the world's most renowned master in this field, Dr. Pierpaolo Cortellini, and his team, this seminar provides in-depth lectures, 2D and 3D clinical video demonstrations, and guided discussions on anatomic, diagnostic, and therapeutic protocols. It is ideal for clinicians seeking to enhance their decision-making and treatment planning skills in managing furcation-involved teeth.

 

Key Learning Objectives:


– Optimal preparation of the patient
– Step 1 & 2 of periodontal therapy
– Pre-surgical diagnosis of the furcation defect
– Planning the surgical approach
– Step-by-step surgical management
– How to debride a furcation
– The non-surgical approach
– The pharmaco-mechanical approach
– Open flap surgery
– Resective surgery
– Regenerative surgery
– Post-surgical period
– Long-term maintenance.

 

You will leave empowered with expert-level clinical insight and a proven decision-making framework to confidently tackle furcation-involved cases using the latest evidence-based strategies.

 

IMPORTANT: the “Seminar. Standard”, “Seminar. VIP” and “Hands-on workshop” participation options are also available for purchase.

 

Advantages of the “Seminar. Comfort” option:

– Participation in the scientific program
– Coffee break
– Notes and handouts
– Certificate of participation
– ADA credits available upon request
– Lunch 
– Priority seats in the venue.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Day 1

Biologic & clinical background


– Multi-rooted teeth: anatomy of upper & lower molars
– Diagnosis and prognosis of teeth with furcation involvement
– Step 1 & 2 of periodontal therapy to improve patient prognosis
– The re-evaluation concept & the surgical treatment plan
– The critical decision: when to extract a molar with furcation involvement
– The surgical approaches: flap or resective or regenerative surgery.

 

The Conservative Approach


– The open flap: scaling & root planing with access surgery
– Design of the flap & suturing techniques
– Expected outcomes and long-term stability: the SPC problem.

 

The Resective Approach


– The different resective approaches in Class I, II, & III furcation
– The apically positioned flap
– Bone surgery: ostectomy & osteoplasty
– The “barrelling in” approach in Class I furcations.
 

 

Day 2

The Resective Approach


– The tunnel approach in Class II & III in lower molars
– The tunnel approach in Class III in upper molars
– Root resection & root amputation in Class II & III
– Prosthetic rehabilitation on resected abutments
– Long-term prognosis.

 

The Regenerative Approach


– Clinical objectives, indications, limits and prognosis of periodontal regeneration in furcations
– Critical evaluation of periodontal regenerative materials
– The clinical problem: debridement of the defect. Instruments and materials
– The “Key-hole” defect: class II furcation at lower molars and buccal class II furcation at upper molars: the buccal / lingual flap and the coronally advanced flap
– Mesial / distal class II furcation at upper molars associated to intrabony defects: the papilla preservation flap and the minimally invasive surgery
– Class II and III furcation at lower molars associated to intrabony defects: the papilla preservation flap and the minimally invasive surgery
– Long-term prognosis of regenerated teeth.

Lecturers 1

Founder and Director of the Cortellini Perio Academy, Florence, Italy. Visiting Professor at the University of Ferrara, Italy. Former 1st EFP Master Clinician designation from the European Federation of Periodontology. Specialist in periodontology with multidisciplinary private practice in Florence focusing on overall patient treatment planning and periodontics. One of the world's most distinguished periodontists and the leading authority on periodontal regeneration.

 

Over 44 years of involvement in clinical periodontal research since 1982 with special emphasis on periodontal regeneration, minimally invasive periodontal surgery, aesthetic periodontics, and periodontal diagnosis. Pioneer in developing biologically-driven periodontal regeneration protocols for intrabony defects and furcation involvement. Creator of the Modified Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique (M-MIST) and papilla preservation flap designs that have become standard procedures worldwide. Expert in supracrestal fibers preservation during defect debridement, internal mattress suturing techniques for primary closure, critical evaluation and biological selection of regenerative materials, and managing periodontal regeneration in the aesthetic zone.

 

Author of over 100 original publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals making him one of the most cited researchers in periodontology. Referee for all major scientific journals in periodontology including Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Journal of Periodontology, and International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry. International lecturer presenting extensively on periodontal regeneration, minimally invasive surgery, and aesthetic periodontal procedures throughout Europe, Asia, Americas, and worldwide. Instructor for advanced hands-on workshops teaching regenerative surgery techniques at the Cortellini Perio Academy in Florence. Creator of comprehensive training programs including two-day seminars and three-day hands-on workshops on infrabony defect management and furcation treatment. Developer of novel concepts including three-step regenerative surgery protocol (papilla incision, defect debridement with supracrestal fiber preservation, modified internal mattress sutures) and healing models for regenerating sites. Mentor to thousands of periodontists worldwide who have adopted his regenerative protocols.

 

MD from University of Florence, Italy (1980). DDS from University of Siena, Italy (1984). Extensive postgraduate training and clinical research in periodontology and regenerative procedures. Visiting Professor appointment at University of Ferrara.

 

Venue

Florence, Italy

 

The address of the venue will be announced later, approximately 30 days before the start of the event.

OHI-S is the world's leading educational platform for dentists worldwide!

 

Our core product is training led by the top global speakers in all branches of dentistry. On our platform, you will find courses covering every dental specialty. We offer a comprehensive range of educational formats: congresses, seminars, hands-on workshops, and online courses.

 

We provide education in 7 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Ukrainian, Russian.

 

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Recommended for: Prosthodontists, General dentists.

Total CE credits: 12

Total lecture time: 12 h

 

Course created: 07/14/2025. OHI-S receives no commercial support for this program.

 

The articles:

1. Periodontal surgery of the maxillary impacted canine for orthodontic purposes: Proposal for a surgical decision tree - Jean-Marc Dersot - 2017
2. Autogenous soft tissue grafting for periodontal and peri-implant plastic surgical reconstruction - Giovanni Zucchelli, Lorenzo Tavelli, Michael K. McGuire, Giulio Rasperini, Stephen E. Feinberg, Hom-Lay Wang, William V. Giannobile - 2019.

 

This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP).

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.