Dr. Jennifer Derse

General Dentist
Lakewood, CO

Lecture Topics

Case Acceptance
Patient Experience
Cosmetic Workflow
Smile Design
Treatment Planning

About Dr. Derse

Dr. Jennifer Derse is a nationally recognized cosmetic and restorative dentist, mentor, and consultant with over 20 years of clinical experience helping dental practices elevate care, case acceptance, and team performance. A 2005 graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry, she began her career in Scottsdale, Arizona, focusing on high-end cosmetic dentistry while also teaching at the Arizona School of Dentistry.

Since relocating to Denver in 2010, Dr. Derse has worked with patients and doctors nationwide, bringing real-world clinical insight and practical systems to everyday dentistry. She currently serves fractionally as Chief Clinical Director at Espire Dental, where she leads doctor mentorship, clinical calibration, and patient-experience strategy across multiple practices. She is also a mentor at the Kois Center and has taught internationally on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, aligner therapy, treatment planning, and effective patient case presentation.

As a practice consultant, Dr. Derse blends advanced clinical expertise with leadership, hospitality, and business strategy to help private practice owners improve predictability, profitability, and professional fulfillment without sacrificing clinical integrity. Her approach is informed by advanced leadership training through Harvard Business School Online, McKinsey Leadership, and The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, as well as firsthand experience founding and scaling a multi-location dental organization to 39 practices.

Grounded in the realities of chairside dentistry, Dr. Derse is passionate about helping doctors build practices that support exceptional patient care, strong teams, and sustainable growth.

Discover Dr. Derse's Latest Courses

Design. Deliver. Dazzle. Creating a Cosmetic Workflow from Consult to Cementation NEW!

This full-day course is designed to guide dental professionals through a streamlined and efficient approach to full mouth rehab and cosmetic cases—from initial consultation to final cementation. You’ll gain actionable strategies to increase both efficiency and profitability, while delivering exceptional outcomes for your patients. The course begins with key insights into the patient interview process and documentation, including effective photography. From there, it transitions into the complete clinical workflow: treatment planning, records gathering, preparation design, and cementation. You'll leave this course with a practical, collaborative framework to help your patients achieve their smile goals confidently and predictably.

Learning Objectives:

Discover how to uncover your patient's “why” to increase treatment acceptance
Understand the connection between occlusal disease and smile design
Learn the biomechanics behind effective preparation design
Gain confidence in marketing your cosmetic skills and services
Implement a streamlined, start-to-finish workflow for cosmetic cases

Prepped for Success: From Temps to Transformation, The Code to Precise and Predictable Smile Makeovers NEW!

In this course, you'll learn an efficient and repeatable workflow for managing cosmetic rehabilitation and veneer cases. You'll discover how to use your provisional temporaries not just as placeholders, but as essential tools in guiding conservative, or even prepLESS veneer designs. We’ll dive into the biomechanics and design considerations behind successful cases, and show you two different approaches to temporization that enhance lab communication and improve case outcomes. With a focus on leveraging the materials and tools you already have in your practice, this course will help you master your smile design visits with predictability, precision, and profitability.

Learning Objectives:

Discover a practical and unique cosmetic rehabilitation workflow using materials already in your practice
Learn how to properly document and plan cosmetic cases for predictable, repeatable outcomes
Understand why temporaries are the most critical part of smile design—and how to optimize their design and material selection
Master communication with both your laboratory and your patients to ensure aligned expectations and successful results

Go With the Flowable (Composite)

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the workflow behind composite injection-molded veneers, an efficient and minimally invasive technique for smile design. You'll learn how to evaluate cases, plan with intention, and communicate clearly with your dental lab to ensure predictable results. The session includes an overview of key smile design principles, essential cosmetic photography techniques, and a visual walkthrough of the injection molding technique using flowable composite. Whether you're just starting with this technique or looking to refine your approach, this course will give you the foundation to confidently integrate composite veneers into your practice.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the foundational principles of smile design as they relate to composite veneers
Learn essential cosmetic photography techniques and how to communicate effectively with your lab
Follow a step-by-step anterior cosmetic rehabilitation workflow using flowable resin for predictable and aesthetic outcomes

Biomechanics and the 7-Minute Crown Prep: Where Speed Meets Longevity NEW!

Green with envy watching other dentists fly through crown preps? You’re not alone, and yes, you can prep faster without compromising quality. After all, if we can get abs in 7 minutes, why not finish a crown prep in the same time (or less)? While our patients love us for the relationships we build, not just our margins, delivering precise, efficient, and tooth-conserving crown preps can make a lasting impression, both clinically and personally. In this course, you’ll learn how to streamline your workflow while maintaining excellence in prep design, material selection, and cementation, whether you’re working with a lab or milling in-office.

Learning Objectives:

Learn when and how to diagnose for full-coverage crowns
Master crown preparation techniques that conserve tooth structure and support long-term success
Understand key design elements for in-office milling systems
Choose appropriate restorative materials based on case needs
Follow step-by-step cementation protocols for long-lasting results

Posterior Composite Happiness NEW!

You will learn an overall workflow for posterior treatment planning from diagnosis to treatment options. You will understand how to build a path for your patients holistically and care for them in more than just a drill and fill approach. You can be happy when you see those Class II’s on your schedule!

Learning Objectives:

Understand the source of decay to lower risk of disease
Learn the importance of documentation
Create opportunities to prevent and treat decay with composite resin

Strategic Smiles: Dive into Treatment Planning Excellence

Getting twisted up trying to create comprehensive treatment plans for your patients? You're not alone, and you're not wrong for feeling overwhelmed. As dentists, our responsibility goes far beyond just fixing teeth. It's about building a system to care for the whole patient. But let’s face it, that’s easier said than done. It’s time to say no to being basic. Drilling and filling isn’t enough. Step up to comprehensive dentistry and learn how to design treatment plans that address the full spectrum of your patients’ needs.

Learning Objectives:

Elevate your hygiene team: Learn how to effectively diagnose and treat periodontal disease, the most underdiagnosed dental condition globally, and integrate your hygiene team into the treatment planning process.
Understand occlusal disease: Grasp the fundamentals of diagnosing occlusal disease so you can catch issues early and treat them before they become complex.
Master biomechanics and restorative strategies: Review the principles of biomechanics and gain confidence in treating mild to moderate tooth disease with smart, predictable solutions.

Collaborative Case Acceptance

Engage your patients in their treatment plans and empower them instead of dictating, and you will increase your case acceptance, treatment, and profitability. You'll learn effective communication techniques that foster patient ownership in their outcomes, boosting confidence in their decision-making and ultimately enhancing case acceptance. You will gain knowledge of how to increase your case acceptance by getting to your patients' why. You will also be provided with tools to share opportunities to increase health and understand that different behavior styles require very different approaches to creating the exact same treatment plan.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding the basic principles of the DiSC profile default behaviors
Obtain language skills to interview your patient
Learn how to understand a patient's motive to tailor your approach

Generate the Ultimate Patient Aligner Experience

In this course, you will learn best practices on structuring the patient experience from start to finish. Including educating patients, helping them go from “let me think about it” to... “yes”, resulting in increased case acceptance. You will also learn your role and responsibility in adding clear aligners to your practice in an effective and efficient manner. In addition, the science of communication, as well as how to identify and engage people with different personalities, will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

Market clear aligners with affordable monthly payment options
Include clear aligners in your treatment plans
Efficiently run an aligner program in your practice
Leverage technology and tools to improve case acceptance and increase profitability
Best communication techniques for different personalities
Best practices for case presentations that include overcoming cost objections as a dental team

Veneers Unlocked: A Hands-On Approach to Aesthetic Excellence NEW!

This hands-on course is designed for dentists who want to elevate their cosmetic cases by mastering an efficient and predictable veneer workflow, from smile design to temporization to final delivery. You’ll learn how to use provisional restorations as a diagnostic and communication tool, guiding prepLESS or conservative veneer cases with confidence and precision. Through step-by-step exercises, you’ll practice preparation techniques, fabricate esthetic temporaries, and understand how to create harmony between prep design, provisional esthetics, and final outcomes. Learn to document, design, and deliver exceptional results using materials and tools already in your practice.

Learning Objectives:

Implement a step-by-step cosmetic workflow using everyday materials
Design conservative and prepLESS veneers guided by your temporaries
Learn two proven approaches to temporization and when to use each
Improve lab communication through provisional design and photography
Establish a predictable protocol for patient and lab expectations

Hands-on Exercises:

Prep design on typodont; conservative and prepLESS veneer prep techniques
Prep-to-temp communication strategy
Fabrication of provisional veneers
Two methods of temporization
Esthetic contouring and polishing of provisionals
Lab communication protocol
Photographic documentation: what to send and why
Learn and practice photography for lab and patient communication

Smile Design Unfiltered: Live Chairside Program in YOUR office NEW!

This comprehensive, hands-on live patient course is designed for dentists who want to elevate their cosmetic dentistry skills with a focus on porcelain veneers in real time. Through a combination of advanced case planning and live patients, participants will gain in-depth knowledge and experience in planning, preparing, and placing veneers with precision and confidence. The course emphasizes a systematic approach to smile design, tooth preparation, temporization, and finishing techniques. Each participant will perform veneer preparations and placements under direct supervision, in their own office, on their own patient, thereby reinforcing clinical skills in a supportive environment.

Learning Objectives:

Learn conservative preparation techniques for maximal enamel preservation
Perform precise temporization and final cementation
Select appropriate materials and shade-matching strategies
Use photography for concise lab communication

Suggested Audience:

This course is ideal for general dentists seeking to build or refine their skills in veneers and/or full mouth rehabilitation. Prior experience in basic restorative procedures is recommended.

Course Format: Live Hands-on

1 hour virtual case review and design
Two 1-day onsite visits for preparation and seat. This should be a day when there are no other patients being seen. The doctor(s) will be completing the work for their patients with over-the-shoulder guidance.

The doctor is responsible for providing their own patient with comprehensive photos, radiographs, and STL file one month prior for patient selection and approval. All periodontal therapy must be completed prior to the preparation date. Up to two doctors per patient can participate with the patient's approval. Up to 4 patients can be seen for a total of 8 doctor participants maximum.

1615 NW 4th Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444 | United States