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Do you ever feel like you're on an island in this profession, unsure of whether to monitor a case or hit the panic button? You are not alone.

In this episode of Dental Digest, host Dr. Melissa Seibert sits down with board-certified periodontist Dr. David Wong to clear up the confusion surrounding soft tissue defects, gingival recession, and grafting thresholds. If you've ever looked at a patient with root exposure and wondered if a connective tissue graft is truly necessary, this deep dive into evidence-based periodontics is exactly what you need.

Dr. Wong breaks down his exact clinical decision-making framework, detailing how to evaluate tissue phenotypes, measure keratinized vs. attached tissue thresholds, and factor in radiographic bone height. They also tackle the notorious "sensitivity trap" and outline exactly when a prominent root or complex defect requires an advanced ridge rebuild versus a conservative watch-and-wait approach.

🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The Grafting Checklist: How to confidently make the call on whether a soft tissue defect requires surgical intervention.
Phenotypes & Recession: Understanding the structural thresholds (in millimeters) that signal a high risk for progressive recession.
Attached vs. Keratinized Tissue: How much attached tissue is actually enough to maintain long-term periodontal health?
The Sensitivity Trap: Why treating root sensitivity with a connective tissue graft might have clinical limits, and what to look for instead.
Interproximal Bone Loss: How radiographic height influences your soft tissue prognosis and surgical outcomes.

👨‍⚕️ About the Guest:

Dr. David Wong is a board-certified periodontist who completed his training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He serves as a chief examiner, holds an advanced credentials certificate from the Misch International Implant Institute, and is a Fellow of the Congress of Oral Implantologists. With decades of clinical experience, Dr. Wong is a leading expert in rebuilding ridges and advanced implant plastic surgery.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Elevate GP—the premier virtual study club for general dentists striving for clinical excellence. Stop practicing alone and join a live community getting their toughest case questions answered every single day.

Dental podcast, Dr. Melissa Seibert, Dental Digest, Dr. David Wong, soft tissue grafting, gingival recession, periodontist, general dentists, connective tissue graft, keratinized tissue, dental implant surgery, Elevate GP.

To Graft or Not to Graft with Dr. David Wong

Dental Digest Podcast with Dr. Melissa Seibert

To Graft or Not to Graft with Dr. David Wong