South West Study Club
3 July 2025 7:00PM – 10:00PM
A Stitch in Time: Evidence-Based Management of Peri-Implant Diseases Using the S3 Clinical Practice Guidelines
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Presented by: Dr Selvaraj Balaji
Host: Joanna Sutcliffe
Date: 3 July 2025 7:00PM – 10:00PM
Time: 1900 Refreshments 1930 Lecture
Location: The Castle Hotel, Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1NF
Successful dental implant placement often requires hard and soft tissue augmentation to ensure long-term stability and aesthetics. Understanding defect types is essential in determining the appropriate augmentation approach. Bone defects can be categorised based on severity and location, influencing whether horizontal or vertical bone augmentation is necessary. Horizontal augmentation is typically used to increase ridge width, while vertical augmentation is needed for height restoration, both requiring specific techniques like guided bone regeneration (GBR) or block grafts.
Bone augmentation is recommended when insufficient bone volume compromises implant stability, while soft tissue augmentation enhances aesthetics and protects underlying structures. Soft tissue grafting, such as connective tissue grafts or free gingival grafts, improves tissue thickness and keratinisation around implants. Knowing when and how to apply these techniques ensures optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes, reducing complications and enhancing long-term success in implant dentistry.
Biography
Speaker Bio
Dr. Claire C. McCarthy PhD MA Ed. PGCE CERT Ed. RDH FAETC RDN FHEA FCGDent FDTFEd
Clinical Research Fellow & Clinical Teacher Periodontology, Kings College London, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences.
Claire graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2000 and joined King’s College London (KCL) in 2004. She completed a master’s degree in Higher and Professional Education at UCL in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2008.
She has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in periodontology since joining KCL and served as Programme Lead for BDS1 and BDS2 Periodontology for eight years. Her teaching includes non-surgical periodontal therapy, clinical supervision, and research project supervision.
In 2020, she received the Robin Davies Research Award for work on peri-implant mucositis. She was awarded Fellowship of the College of General Dentistry in 2023 and Faculty Membership of the British Society of Periodontology in 2024. That same year, she completed a PhD in Clinical Dentistry at KCL on aerosol prevention and ultrasonic device performance, receiving the KCL Outstanding Thesis Award.
Claire is currently based at Guy’s Hospital as a Clinical Research Fellow and Clinical Teacher in Periodontology. She is project lead on projects investigating ultrasonic instrumentation, aerosol reduction, and implant decontamination, and is part of the 2025 MedTech Accelerator Programme in collaboration with the London Institute of Healthcare Engineering.
Her academic interests include pedagogy, scaffolding learning, and integrating theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. She received a KCL Teaching Award for Student Support in 2025 and an international travel award for developing an oral hygiene and patient engagement toolkit using AI.
She chairs the Accreditation Committee for the Irish Dental Council and serves as an External Assessor for Malta’s Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). She has served four terms on the BSDHT Council, was the DCP representative on the BSP Early Career Group and has been a Visiting Scholar at NYU College of Dentistry since 2014. She is the current Staff President of the KCL Dental Society for 2025–2026.
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