Indira Mujić Jahić

Where Does Periodontology End and Extreme Solutions Begin?

The continuous evolution of periodontal therapy has shifted the boundaries of what can be biologically and ethically preserved. Advances in regenerative techniques, biomaterials, and host-modulation approaches have redefined the concept of “hopeless teeth,” challenging clinicians to reconsider the limits of periodontal treatment. Yet, the growing popularity of implants and prosthetic-driven rehabilitation has simultaneously blurred the line between preservation and replacement.

This presentation explores the critical question: Where does periodontology end, and where do extreme solutions begin? It examines the biological, technological, and ethical thresholds that influence treatment decisions in advanced periodontal disease. Emphasis is placed on current evidence-based parameters for prognosis evaluation, including attachment level, bone support, furcation involvement, and systemic risk factors. The discussion integrates the 2018 classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) guidelines, and recent data comparing long-term outcomes of retained teeth versus implants.

Through clinical examples and decision algorithms, the presentation highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration, digital diagnostics, and patient-centered ethics can guide clinicians in determining whether to save or replace a tooth. It also addresses the increasing prevalence of peri-implantitis as a new biological challenge paralleling periodontitis.

Ultimately, this lecture advocates for biologically justified, ethically responsible, and evidence-based decisions, reaffirming that the ultimate goal of periodontology is not replacement, but preservation of the natural dentition whenever possible.

Keywords: periodontology, regeneration, implantology, peri-implantitis, ethics, prognosis, decision-making

Assist. prof. dr. Indira Mujić Jahić, DMD, PhD
Indira Mujić Jahić, specialist in oral medicine and periodontology, is employed at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sarajevo. She teaches the subjects Oral Medicine and Pathology, Basics of Periodontology, Clinical Periodontology, Epidemiology of Periodontal Diseases, and Oral Disease Prevention in the integrated study program of dentistry.
She obtained her Doctor of Dental Sciences (PhD) degree from the University of Sarajevo in 2022, defending her dissertation entitled “Comparison of Clinical and Microbiological Outcomes of Chronic Periodontitis Treatment Using a 445 nm Diode Laser.” She completed her specialization in Oral Medicine and Periodontology in 2017 and earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the same faculty in 2008.
Since 2022, she has served as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, and since 2024, she has held the position of Head of the Clinic for Oral Medicine and Periodontology. She is also the President of the Section for Oral Medicine and Periodontology of the Association of Dentists of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Her scientific and research interests focus on periodontology and oral medicine, with special emphasis on the use of lasers in dentistry, the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases, and regenerative therapeutic procedures.
She is the author and co-author of more than twenty scientific and professional papers published in domestic and international indexed journals. Selected recent publications include: Mujić Jahić I. et al. A Novel Blue Light Laser (445 nm) in Non-surgical Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: A Clinical and Microbiological Study. Cureus, 2024.; Vukelic MG, Hadzic S, Pasic E, Jahic IM, Muharemovic A, Zoronjic A. Efficacy of Non-surgical Treatment of Periodontal Diseases Using the Vector® Paro Pro Ultrasonic Device. Mater Sociomed. 2024;36(4):305-309.; Gojkov-Vukelic M, Hadzic S, Jahic IM, Pasic E, Muharemovic A. Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of Diode Laser and Desensitizing Agents on the Treatment of Dentin Hypersensitivity: a Clinical Study. Acta Inform Med. 2021 Jun;29(2):125-129.; Hadžić S., Mujić Jahić I. et al. Evaluation of Periodontal Changes in Patients Before, During, and After a Fixed Orthodontic Therapy. Mater Sociomed., 2022.
She actively participates in national and international scientific conferences and congresses. She was an invited lecturer at the International Scientific Conference in Dentistry (Novi Sad, 2023) and has participated in the BaSS Congress, EuroPerio 11 (Vienna, 2025), Congresses of Dentists of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Periodontal Days, and numerous other professional gatherings. She currently serves as President of the Scientific Committee of the 9th Congress of Dentists of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2025).