Periodontology Department

The Department of Periodontology of the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School (Nanjing Stomatological Hospital) was founded in 1993 and has become one of the distinctive specialty departments in East China. It integrates the clinical practice, teaching, research, and prevention of periodontal diseases, and is a National Standardized Training Base for Stomatology Residents and a Key Clinical Specialty of Jiangsu Province. The department has 47 medical and nursing staff members, including 9 doctors with doctoral degrees, 5 doctoral candidates, and 15 doctors with master’s degrees; 2 doctoral supervisors and 1 master’s supervisor. It undertakes the training of doctoral and master’s students in Clinical Stomatology at Nanjing University Medical School, graduating more than 10 doctoral and master’s students each year. The department currently has 1 incoming chairperson of the Periodontology Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association, 1 inaugural chairperson of the Periodontology Committee of the Jiangsu Stomatological Association, 1 vice president of the Jiangsu Stomatological Association, 1 standing committee member and 2 committee members of the Periodontology Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association, 1 committee member of the Geriatric Dentistry Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association, and 1 committee member of the Esthetic Dentistry Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association. Professor Yan Fuhua, the academic leader, is the incoming chairperson of the Periodontology Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association and vice president of the Jiangsu Stomatological Association, among other positions. Professor Sun Weibin is a standing committee member of the Periodontology Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association, a Fellow of the International College of Dentists (ICD), a standing committee member of the Dental Education Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association, and vice chairperson of the Periodontology Committee of the Jiangsu Stomatological Association.

The Department of Periodontology has more than 2,300 square meters of clinical space and more than 40 dental chairs. It is equipped with advanced instruments and devices, including a painless periodontal treatment unit, a periodontal endoscopy system, laser treatment devices, equipment for processing autogenous tooth-derived bone graft materials, a head-mounted magnification system, a Florida periodontal electronic probe, and a CGF centrifuge. The department receives more than 80,000 outpatient visits annually. The department specializes in minimally invasive periodontal treatment and is committed to standardized sequential treatment of periodontal diseases: 1. Minimally invasive periodontal scaling: A painless periodontal treatment unit is used without anesthesia, allowing full-mouth subgingival scaling and root planing to be completed in 1 to 2 sessions, with a comfortable treatment process and little postoperative discomfort. 2. Periodontal treatment under periodontal endoscopy: The operative field is magnified 48-fold, enabling the noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of various severe or difficult-to-diagnose periodontal diseases under direct vision. This is currently the most minimally invasive treatment and can, to some extent, replace some conventional periodontal flap surgeries. 3. Minimally invasive periodontal surgery: This includes minimally invasive flap surgery, endodontic surgery, and guided periodontal tissue regeneration. The procedures follow the minimally invasive principle throughout, using minimally invasive instruments and an auxiliary magnification system, with the smallest possible incisions, combined with CGF to promote alveolar bone regeneration and maximize preservation of the affected teeth. 4. Various periodontal and bone-regeneration procedures using autogenous tooth-derived bone graft materials: The department has equipment for processing autogenous tooth-derived bone graft materials, which can immediately process a non-restorable affected tooth into autogenous tooth-derived bone graft material for transplantation into the regeneration surgical site during the same procedure or at a later stage, thereby promoting alveolar bone regeneration. 5. Minimally invasive tooth extraction and alveolar ridge site preservation: Minimally invasive instruments are used to remove teeth affected by periodontal disease, while bone substitutes are implanted to preserve the height and width of the alveolar bone as much as possible and create favorable conditions for future implant restoration. 6. Esthetic periodontal surgery: This includes esthetic crown lengthening, mucogingival surgery, and gingival contouring, effectively improving a gummy smile, gingival recession, and other conditions. 7. Laser-assisted treatment of periodontitis: The department has various laser treatment devices, including erbium lasers, which are used as adjuncts in the treatment of periodontitis for better outcomes. Laser application during surgery results in less bleeding, less trauma, and faster recovery. 8. Treatment of peri-implantitis: Advanced methods, including minimally invasive scaling, air polishing, laser/photodynamic therapy, and periodontal regenerative surgery, are combined to treat peri-implantitis, with significant therapeutic efficacy. 9. Multidisciplinary treatment: The department collaborates with the Departments of Orthodontics and Prosthodontics to provide orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment for patients with periodontitis. 10. Diagnosis and treatment of rare and hereditary periodontal diseases: This is a key area of departmental development. Genetic diagnosis and other methods are used to diagnose rare and hereditary periodontal diseases, and standardized diagnostic and treatment pathways have been established. Multiple special cases that had remained undiagnosed despite consultations in several locations have been successfully diagnosed and treated, including hypophosphatasia, palmoplantar keratosis–periodontal destruction syndrome, and idiopathic multiple cervical root resorption.

Over the past 5 years, the department has published more than 100 papers, including more than 50 SCI-indexed papers; served as primary translator, editor-in-chief, or contributing editor for more than 20 monographs; obtained more than 30 research projects through international cooperation and various national, provincial, and municipal channels, including 13 National Natural Science Foundation of China projects; received 7 national utility model patents, 4 provincial science and technology progress awards, and 6 provincial and municipal awards for the introduction of new technologies.