Course Objectives

• Recognize and describe the impact of complete and partial edentulism on hard and soft tissue, on the esthetic and the psychology of the patient.

• Understand the history of dental implants.

• Define the different types of dental implants.

• Optimize the patient s election, case presentation and informed consent process.

• Demonstrate and conduct complete dental history and clinical evaluation of implant patients.

• Classify and define different implant prosthesis.

• Learn all of the maxillary and mandibular anatomical landmarks and their radiographic assessment prior to implant placement.

• Recognize and describe different types of bone density.

• Describe the step-by-step protocol for the one and the two-stage surgical implant placement.

• Learn the guidelines for optimal implant placement for function and esthetics.

• Determine the proper implant depth during surgical placement of implants in different clinical situations.

• Learn the ideal implant size in each tooth location.

• Understand the minimum vertical and horizontal restorative spaces

• Learn the selection process and how to fabricate surgical templates with different designs for each specific surgical indication.

• Learn the indications, the guidelines and the protocol for immediate implant insertion technique.

• Identify and utilize the 30 key principles for predictable implant surgical placement.

• Understand the proper postoperative follow-up protocol after implant surgery.

• Learn the step by step technique for socket grafting

• Classify and define all four types of the bone grafting materials (Autograft, allograft, xenograft and alloplast)

• Learn the technique and the indications for the open-tray and the closed-tray implant impression techniques.

• Recognize and describe the indications for soft tissue model in implant dentistry.

• Learn the step-by-step technique for fixed implant prosthesis delivery.

• Understand the principals of oral sedation and the protocol for the use of oral sedatives prior to implant surgical procedures.

• Learn the benefits of good communication practices between the doctor, patient and the laboratory.

The surgical model of dentistry is being replaced with a medically-based model called minimally invasive dentistry, which seeks to identify the cause of a disease and treat its symptoms, thereby minimizing hard tissue damage. This course applies the concepts of minimally invasive dentistry to caries management. The multifactorial nature of caries, risk factors, and specific indicators are discussed.   Assessing diet, oral hygiene, bacterial load, and susceptibility to infection help create a "road map" for oral health professionals to follow as they treat patients using the medical model.   The importance of saliva testing is emphasized and specific treatment protocols are discussed.

Dental implants are an established treatment modality in dentistry with a high rate of success and few complications. However, untoward events do occur despite careful treatment planning and meticulous execution of clinical procedures. Surgical complications that can occur include infection, bleeding, wound dehiscence, primary instability of the implant, neurosensory changes, and tissue emphysema. Once the implant is osseointegrated, other complications may arise, including inflammatory peri-implant lesions. Such situations may be limited to inflammation of the peri-implant mucosa or more significantly involve the supporting bone. All these conditions increase the risk of poor outcomes, including implant loss. This intermediate-level course addresses complications associated with dental implants and reviews selective options for their management.

Oral health encompasses the craniofacial complex and includes the teeth, periodontium, mucosa, gingiva, oral pharynx, temporomandibular joints, and muscles used for mastication. While men and women face many common oral health issues, it is no longer acceptable to consider oral health to be gender neutral. Indeed, women differ from men in their oral health needs and concerns. This basic-level course explores the variables affecting women’s oral health and discusses the issues and concerns that dental professionals face in providing care to females across their lifespan.

Both periodontal disease and osteoporosis are serious public-health concerns in the United States. There is evidence that osteoporosis, and the characteristic loss of bone mass, is associated with periodontal disease and tooth loss. To optimize the oral health care of patients with osteoporosis and at risk for the condition, dentists and other members of the dental team should be aware of the clinical (and possibly pathophysiologic) link between these increasingly common conditions. 

This intermediate-level course addresses current concepts regarding links between oral health and osteoporosis, discusses the impact on oral health of pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of osteoporosis, and outlines steps to mitigate the impact on oral health of common drug treatments used to treat osteoporosis. Oral healthcare providers must recognize the oral health implications of common therapeutic options for osteoporosis, especially use of bisphosphonates and antiresorptive medications. In particular, patient exposure to bisphosphonate and antiresorptive drugs has led to increasing reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw. This serious and debilitating condition requires dental practitioners to be alert for signs and symptoms of this syndrome and to take steps to mitigate risk factors. Although the pharmacotherapy used to treat osteoporosis causes concerns for oral health providers, these drugs provide very significant healthcare advantages for the patients, and overall the reduction in osteoporotic fractures alone causes significant savings for the healthcare system. Therefore, care must be taken not to overestimate the oral health ramifications and concerns with these drugs.  

A variety of physiologic, anatomic, and hormonal changes accompany pregnancy and affect how oral health care is provided. In addition to changes in the oral cavity and altered susceptibility to periodontal disease and other oral conditions, there are changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. There is considerable evidence that some oral conditions may have adverse health consequences. Some studies have demonstrated a link between periodontitis and preterm birth and low-birth weight. In addition, there is considerable evidence that high levels of cariogenic bacteria in mothers are associated with increased dental caries during early childhood.

Unfortunately, dentists, physicians, and patients often misunderstand and avoid oral health care issues during and after pregnancy. This situation exists despite the fact that routine dental procedures are safe in most pregnant patients. To enhance the provision of oral health care in pregnant patients, evidence-based practice guidelines have been developed. This basic-level course addresses current concepts regarding oral health in pregnant women, the impact of their oral health on pregnancy outcomes and early childhood health, and discusses strategies to optimize oral health during pregnancy.

This basic-level course begins by describing the evolution of aesthetic direct posterior restorative materials and their limitations, then goes on to identify the characteristics, indications, and limitations of aesthetic indirect inlays and onlays. The material options for aesthetic indirect inlays and onlays, the importance of case selection in treatment planning, and the significance of chairside CAD/CAM technology in the field of restorative dentistry are discussed. Through the use of clinical case reports, dental professionals learn the steps needed to properly execute aesthetic indirect inlays and onlays, thereby expanding their clinical armamentarium.

Self-Instruction

Each issue of General Dentistry, the AGD’s award-winning, peer-reviewed clinical journal, features at least three articles about various topics in dentistry and related "open book" exercises. Each exercise is worth two continuing education (CE) credits. You can use these credits toward relicensure (where self-examination credits are accepted), AGD membership maintenance, and the FAGD award.

Self-Instruction allows you to earn valuable CE hours in the office, at home, or on the go. There is no easier way to earn credits toward relicensure or enrichment. Exercises are developed by and for general dentists, ensuring that you’re getting CE that will benefit you, your patients, and your practice.

Once you enroll, you can earn CE credit in three easy steps:

1. Read the articles.
2. Take the exercises.
3. Submit your answers and receive pass/fail notification within 48 hours (via email or fax). You must include your name and AGD number for processing.

Self-Instruction Program Features:

• Register and pay online for one exercise at a time ($30 for members, $50 for nonmembers).
• Visit the AGD Products page to order our best value pack: $150 for members, $225 for nonmembers, which allows you up to 12 exercises.
• Exercises are available one year after date of publication.

Call 888.AGD.DENT (888.243.3368), ext. 4336, to speak with an AGD staff member to set up your enrollment over the phone.

Have more questions about the program?
Already enrolled in the program? Access Self-Instruction Exercises Now!

Oral healthcare professionals (OHCPs) are routinely involved with the selection and prescription of antibiotics to either prevent an infection prophylactically or to manage an existing orofacial infection therapeutically. In fact, there are only three major uses of antimicrobial agents in the practice of dentistry: prophylaxis in patients with compromised immune systems caused by certain diseases or medications; prophylaxis in patients at risk for developing infective endocarditis; and treatment of an acute dental infection.  Although OHCPs must stay current with the published guidelines that represent existing standards of care, the evidence in support of these recommendations can be controversial. Regardless of these issues, the appropriate prescribing of antibiotics, while challenging for both dental and medical professionals alike, is vitally important in the overall management of patients.  The practice of overprescribing antibiotics in certain medical and dental situations as well as development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria could be greatly abated with closer attention to basic prescription-writing principles. 

The entire dental staff should understand basic concepts regarding TDI management in order to triage, treat, and provide appropriate follow-up care for these injuries. Providing a structured presentation of the patient’s clinical appearance and identifying issues that require immediate treatment can not only help the dentist but also significantly improve the treatment outcomes.  In order to properly treat patients who have experienced TDI, it is imperative that the dentist be compassionate, be able to control pain, help heal wounds rather than fix teeth, and be available to these patients by being on call during non-office hours. Approaching an emergent situation confidently can help the patient and/or parent feel at ease and thus allow for optimal treatment. 

The treating dentist must be willing to be a member of a team, which may include specialists such as endodontists, prosthodontists, periodontists, orthodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. These specialists are often needed for consultation regarding treatment of the acute injury and may also be needed to provide specific services and/or comprehensive long-term care.  

This course offers a comprehensive overview of the problem of dental unit waterline (DUWL) contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates drinking water in the public water supply to ensure that the number of water organisms is kept at an acceptable level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the water emitted from dental handpieces and air/water syringes be the same quality as drinking water. 

This course offers an overview of the historically evolving role of mandated reporters and a description of child welfare services in Pennsylvania. It provides Pennsylvania dentists with details of the legal requirements imposed on mandated reporters of child abuse. The course defines the statutory (legal) components of child abuse, including what does and does not constitute child abuse. The course outlines the provisions and responsibilities for reporting such abuse by distinguishing between individuals designated as “mandatory reporters” and those deemed to be “permissive reporters.” Clear instructions are provided for navigating the reporting process, and the ways in which reporters are protected under the law are outlined. Lastly, the course details the indicators essential to recognizing abuse. The course provides dentists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the knowledge and tools they need to fulfill their legal responsibility to report suspected child abuse.

This course fulfills the requirement that all Pennsylvania dentists complete 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of their license renewal. 

Newest information will be provided on:

• BruxZir and e.max full-contour molar crowns – performance after 6 years
• Translucent zirconias – do they replace BruxZir zirconia and e.max lithium disilicate?
• Zirconia vs. PFM – indications in 2016
• Tooth preparations – do you need to disinfect before restoring?
• Caries arrest and remineralization – can clinicians make these happen? 
• Caries detection instruments – do I need one?
• Sealants – problems and solutions
• Lasers – their role in periodontitis treatment
• Effective infection control – do your products do what you think they do?
• Surface disinfectants – problems you need to be aware of

Are you losing money?  Is your hygiene department a loss leader or a profit center?

If you are like many dental offices around the country, your hygiene department exists to generate restorative patients and hopefully cover its own expenses. We want to create hygiene departments that are both effective and profitable. Your hygiene department can not only create additional profit, but help you to increase case acceptance, maintain a proper patient flow and even generate new patients with a proper referral program. Special guest speakers include RDH’s from all over the country who help run clinically effective hygiene departments on a 40 minute adult recall schedule, INCLUDING x-rays.

This course has been designed for dentists, practice owners, office managers, hygienists, and the entire staff to increase profitability and grow your businesses bottom line. Attendees of this course report increased profits, patient satisfaction, case acceptance, and patient referrals immediately upon completing this course.

During this informative and entertaining 1 day seminar you will learn:

• What procedures can be added to your hygienists schedule to increase average billing per visit.
• How to operate on a shorter recall schedule without compromising clinical results.
• The proper way to treatment plan and present periodontal treatment.
• What KPI (Key Performance Indicators) should be looked at on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to ensure profitability and improve specific areas of performance.
• Specific roles and responsibilities for your hygiene department.
• What hygienists should be doing during down time (HINT: It isn’t sharpening instruments).

Course Objectives

• Develop a well-defined vision for your hygiene department.
• Evaluate KPIs from your practice to determine strengths and areas for improvement.
• Create systems to increase case acceptance for recall visits, periodontal treatment and restorative care.
• Build referral programs that actually work to generate new patient referrals from your existing patients.
• Create time management systems that will work to decrease clinical time without lowering clinical outcomes.
• Explore the tools that each hygienist needs in order to create a profitable growth environment.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• PROPER PERIO CODING MAP – guiding you through the process.
• TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS – reducing treatment time while improving patient satisfaction and results.
• 15 SERVICES – a simple list of easy to present treatments that will immediately increase your production per visit.
• SAMPLE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – making it easy to define what each staff member should be working on every day.
• 6 hours of CE Credit.

Attendees of this course will receive 6 CE credit hour credits.

There are more than one-half million dental healthcare personnel in the United States, a total that includes approximately 195,000 dentists, 200,000 registered dental hygienists, 300,000 dental assistants, and 35,000 dental laboratory technicians. Most dentists are solo practitioners working in outpatient, ambulatory care facilities using instruments that generate spatter, mists, aerosols, or particulate matter. In such settings there is a strong possibility that patients and dental personnel will be exposed to blood and other potentially pathogenic infectious material unless precautions are taken. Fortunately, by understanding certain principles of disease transmission and using infection control practices, dental personnel can prevent disease transmission.

This basic-level course helps to protect both patient and practitioner safety by providing dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants with a review of the CDC recommendations for barrier precautions in the dental healthcare setting and the application of OSHA regulations to infection control. By understanding certain principles of disease transmission and using infection control practices, dental personnel can prevent disease transmission. The course explains universal precautions and describes personal protective equipment. Environmental infection control procedures are identified including general cleaning recommendations cleaning clinical contact surfaces and cleaning housekeeping surfaces.

During the delivery of dental care, both patients and dental healthcare workers can be exposed to a wide array of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza, and numerous other viral and bacterial infections. If recommended infection control practices are not followed for each and every patient contact, transmission of infection will occur. In order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease, discipline-specific infection-control guidelines have been published. It is incumbent upon all dental healthcare providers to understand and comply with the principles of infection control whenever and wherever they provide treatment to a patient.

This basic-level course reviews published guidelines and principles of infection control and outlines the methods that can be used to effectively break the chain of infection, including the use of work practice controls, barriers and/or personal protective equipment, and practices of effective cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization. This course focuses on the six core elements of infection control required by the state of New York and is relevant to all dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.

During the delivery of dental care, both patients and dental healthcare workers can be exposed to a wide array of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza, and numerous other viral and bacterial infections. If recommended infection control practices are not followed for each and every patient contact, transmission of infection will occur. In order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease, discipline-specific infection-control guidelines have been published. It is incumbent upon all dental healthcare providers to understand and comply with the principles of infection control whenever and wherever they provide treatment to a patient.

This basic-level course reviews published guidelines and principles of infection control and outlines the methods that can be used to effectively break the chain of infection, including the use of work practice controls, barriers and/or personal protective equipment, and practices of effective cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization. This course focuses on the six core elements of infection control and is relevant to all dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.

Walk away with a wealth of knowledge about how to apply this new treatment modality in your office with remarkable results and lower your stress level at the same time! James will enlighten you with his vast scientific knowledge behind light therapy. Tor will show you how he applies LLLT every day in his practice for a variety of invasive and non-invasive procedures. It will be a day filled with fun and ample time to ask questions and familiarize yourselves with the technology before you make the decision to jump onboard. Participants will be exposed to Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and learn through this hands on training how to apply this modality to improve the outcomes of all your dental procedures.

Participants can anticipate to learn:

• The science behind LLLT
• Use of Low Level Laser Therapy
• General applications in medicine
• Specific applications in dentistry
• Diagnostic
• Preventive
• Restorative
• Endodontics
• Implant placement
• Fixed prosthodontics
• Oral surgery
• Orthodontics
• TMD treatment
• Neuralgia

About Dr. Tor Gotun

A European native, Dr. Gotun grew up in Kragerø, Norway, attended and graduated from the University of Oslo Dental School in Norway. Once moving to the United States, Dr. Gotun pursued and acquired Board Certification in General Dentistry at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Gotun is recognized by the Foundation for Advanced Continuing Education (F.A.C.E.) for advanced training in Gnathology. Completing over 3000 hours of continued education, as well as having over thirty years’ experience in dentistry, Dr. Gotun received his highest honor in 2009,qualifying him as a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry. In 2012, Dr Gotun received his LLSR. Currently, Dr. Gotun is on the Board of Directors for the Texas Academy of General Dentistry and serves as the Director of the Master Study Club program.

Implants:Is Osseointegration Enough?
Dental implants remain one of the most significant advances in modern dentistry. Although implants have a 98% survival rate, success is not implied. Utilizing relevant clinical cases, Dr. Ickert’s clinical presentation explores the distinction between the “survival” and the “success” of dental implants, as well as to provide both surgical and restoring dentists with important treatment planning tools to predict the best possible chance of success.

Lecture Attendees will Learn:
• How to treatment plan for implant dentistry
• Treatment options available
• Surgical and prosthetic principles, risks and complications
• How to determine the difference between the survival and success of implant therapy
• Key principles to help minimize the negative secondary factors
• Risk factors and clinical management of peri-implantitis

About Dr. Norman Ickert 
Dr. Norman Ickert completed his general dentistry education in 1982 at Vancouver’s University of British Columbia and completed his Master’s Program in Oral Medicine and Implantology in 2012 from the University of Muenster, Germany. Dr. Ickert is the director of the Ickert Dental Implant Centre, a referral practice limited to implant related dentistry, and also teaches surgical implant dentistry at the Kois Centre in Seattle. Dr. Ickert is proud to limit his practice to comprehensive, aesthetic and functional rehabilitative dentistry, including both the surgical and prosthetic aspects of dental implants, as well as numerous related hard and soft tissue enhancement procedures.

The purpose of this course are to provide an integrated update of the recent developments on the pathophysiology of migraine and resulting "mechanism-related" therapies, to evaluate the clinical benefit-risk ratio of antimigraine medications, and to summarize the current and evidence-based guidelines for the clinical management of migraine. The information provided should contribute to a more positive interaction between patients and dental professionals, through fostering patient awareness, implementation of lifestyle changes, and compliance to therapy.