A decade-long clinical study led by Filipino dental specialist and researcher Dr. Tino Mercado has been published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, considered the world’s premier scientific journal in the field of periodontology.
The research, titled “Surgical therapy for peri-implantitis using deproteinised bovine bone mineral with 10% collagen, enamel matrix derivative and Doxycycline: a prospective cohort 10-year implant study,” presents the long-term results of a treatment approach for peri-implantitis, a serious inflammatory disease that affects the tissues surrounding dental implants and is one of the leading causes of implant failure.
The study was conducted by a Filipino-led research team from the University of Otago in New Zealand and the University of Queensland in Australia. Dr. Mercado authored the study alongside Prof. Saso Ivanovski, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Queensland and a globally recognized researcher in periodontology.
According to the published paper, the research followed patients over a 10-year period to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment using deproteinised bovine bone mineral with 10% collagen, enamel matrix derivative, and doxycycline, combined with personalized supportive periodontal therapy.
The findings showed that 29 of the 30 dental implants remained functional after 10 years, representing a 96.6% implant survival rate. Researchers also reported significant improvements in probing depth and radiographic bone loss, concluding that the treatment approach achieved high long-term implant survival and stable clinical outcomes over the decade.
For Dr. Mercado, the publication marks another milestone in a career dedicated to advancing periodontal science and improving patient care. Based in Australia for nearly three decades, he has built an international reputation as a clinician, educator, and researcher whose work focuses on periodontics, oral surgery, and the relationship between gum disease and overall health.
He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Otago, the University of Sydney, and the University of Queensland, where he mentors future dental specialists while contributing to research that bridges clinical practice and academic innovation.
Dr. Mercado also serves as the Immediate Past President of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Periodontists (ANZAP) for the 2026–2028 term, following his historic tenure as the first Filipino to lead the premier professional organization for periodontal specialists across Australia and New Zealand. Throughout his career, he has advocated for higher standards in periodontal education and strengthened collaboration between institutions in Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Beyond academia, he is the Founding President of the Filipino Australian Dental Association (FADA), an organization that supports Filipino dentists pursuing professional registration in Australia while conducting continuing education programs and charitable outreach missions in underserved communities in the Philippines.
Earlier this year, Dr. Mercado was also recognized during The Global Filipino Icon Awards 2026 in Dubai as a Special Awardee for “Pioneering Excellence in Oral Health Research, Education, and Clinical Innovation.” The awards ceremony, held at the Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai, was attended by several prominent personalities, including Catriona Gray, Piolo Pascual, Atom Araullo, and other distinguished guests.
