The publication presents the conclusions of a scientific workshop organised by the EFP in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration (SEPA) and the Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology (SIdP). In this article, Dr José Nart and Dr Francesco Cairo offer an analysis focused on three clinical areas: the treatment of gingival recessions, the timing of dental implant placement and the management of soft-tissue complications around implants.

The article highlights the increasing importance of patients’ perception and experience in the assessment of periodontal and implant treatments. These indicators complement traditional clinical outcomes and contribute to a more person-centred approach to dentistry.

Among the study’s conclusions, it is noted that surgical procedures for treating gingival recessions,  particularly techniques involving connective tissue grafts,  provide highly favourable clinical and aesthetic outcomes. However, the authors point out that the aesthetic perception of professionals does not always align with that of patients, who place particular value on the final integration of the soft tissues rather than the exact degree of root coverage.

The analysis also indicates that patient-reported outcomes in implant treatments, such as satisfaction, aesthetics or quality of life, are generally positive when procedures are appropriately indicated, underscoring the importance of effective clinical communication and shared decision-making.

The workshop concludes that systematically incorporating the patient’s perspective is essential for improving clinical decision-making and advancing towards an evidence-based, patient-centred model of dentistry.

Dr José Nart is a professor of Periodontology at the Faculty of Dentistry and was recently appointed vice-president of the Official College of Dentists and Stomatologists of Catalonia (COEC).