Black interdental triangles are present in a wide swath of our patient population - both as a post-orthodontic complication and as an effect of long standing periodontal disease. Even though we see them frequently, they can be unpredictable to restore - unless you have the right armamentarium to do so. This course will cover options to treat black triangles: with the help of anatomic shaped mylar, good tissue retraction techniques and predictable results by diving into the reasons the triangles popped up in the first place. By better understanding the etiology of black triangle spacing and your patient's perspective, you will walk away with some ideas on how to present treatment options the next time your patient asks about it.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the common etiologic factors of unsightly spaces at the gingival level
• Realize the treatment options, and understand the benefits of additive dentistry to close black triangle spaces
• Consider the pros and cons of alternatives to restorative dentistry
• Review techniques for closing black triangles, and not just in the esthetic zone

Available as an evening program (lecture only), or half-day lecture with hands-on component. 

Direct restorative isn't always the most glamorous part of a general dentist's day - but it can put a spring in your step if you're able to produce restorations that are harder, better, faster & stronger predictably. We'll talk about common pitfalls of direct restorative including stained margins, chipped marginal ridges and point contacts and how to avoid those before they happen! Tissue management, heated composite and matrix selection will be discussed in depth, using case based examples to support literature available.

Learning Objectives:

• Why tissue management is important, and not just for impressions or scans
• Re-evaluating your preparation design, thinking beyond the box and prepping for your materials
• Review of real-life clinical scenarios with time for Q&A

It's not you... it's your tools! The traditional class II matrix systems with metal bands, wooden wedges and clamps that guarantee tight contacts are all a mess, unless you know how to use them WITH your prep design. This course will dive deep into class II preparation design with the final restoration end in mind. Catching gunk at the gingival level? Chipped marginal ridges at recall visits? We'll tackle some of the common pitfalls of what should be a routine, bread-and-butter part of a general, restorative practice. This course is for you if you're looking to elevate your confidence in tackling class II posterior restorations.

Hands-on portion will include managing the deep class II with deep margin acquisition techniques and cuspal coverage using warmed resin composite, clear anatomic mylar matrices and strong, effective curing techniques. We will also review the adjunctive armamentarium designed to assist with tissue management.

Learning Objectives:

• Re-evaluating your preparation design, and encouraging participants to think beyond the box
• How to troubleshoot common post-op issues with class II composites
• Understand how your patient demographic may play a role in materials selection
• Hands-on experience working with warmed composite resin and clear anatomic mylar to deliver consistent results every time
  

Suggested Format: Lecture, or lecture with hands-on. Flexible in length, from 90 minutes to three hours.

We live in an era where over 65 million Americans are part of the Baby Boomer generation. Their caries disease was treated with large amalgams in their youth - and these restorations are still lurking 20, 30 and 40 years on! This patient population has a disproportionate number of cracked teeth and failing amalgams that have traditionally been treated with crowns. This course will describe ideal case selection to create long-lasting composite restorations that rival strength and contours of lab-fabricated restorations. We will discuss how to bill these restorations appropriately, so they can be a viable treatment option for patients and doctors alike.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn when it is/is not appropriate to use composite for cuspal coverage
• Understand prep design modifications for successful composite outcomes
• Build confidence in treating dental emergencies without reliance on lab or milled restorations
• Increase patient acceptance for minimally invasive treatment

Suggested Format: Lecture. Flexible in length, from 90 minutes to three hours.

How many times have you bought a kit of 30+ shades of composite to restore those pesky anterior teeth to the perfect shade and then let half of it expire in the cabinet? The truth is, you don’t need an entire shade-guide’s worth of colors in your composite bin! This combination lecture and hands-on program teaches you how to minimize the armamentarium for esthetically pleasing composite outcomes for black triangle & diastema closures, and large lesions due to caries & trauma in the esthetic zone. We will discuss techniques to minimize stain accumulation at the margins and work with warmed composite resins to allow for ease of placement & decreased voids in the material.

The hands-on portion should give participants enough experience with black triangles and deep caries that you can take these principles back to your own operatories right after the conclusion of the course.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the single-tooth injection molded composite technique, which can be applied to an entire arch form
• Review prep design and common pitfalls that lead to visible & stained margins
• Get hands-on experience working with warmed monolithic composite to create an esthetically pleasing result
• Practice polishing protocols that make your composites retain their luster over time
  

Suggested Format: Lecture, or lecture with hands-on. Flexible in length, from 90 minutes to three hours.

Yes, it’s scary to take the plunge and get out-of-network. But you know what’s scarier? The annual insurance write-off on your P&L statement at the end of the year! Dive in and understand where that write-off number comes from, how you can reclaim those dollars as your own and why insurance dependence is holding you back from achieving your full potential as a savvy small-business owner.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how much staying in-network is costing you and your team
• Come away with 3 actionable steps to rejuvenate your practice
• Learn the pros & cons of dental membership plans

*This course can be tailored for a single-team to hone in on their individual practice
*It is recommended to bring a copy of the last quarterly & annual P&L statement available and a printout of revenue by procedure code report from your practice management software to reference

Suggested Format: Evening or webinar program.

It’s been said that “the tissue is the issue,” and we all know that can be true! In the restorative world, contamination from soft tissue in the oral environment can cause havoc mid-procedure. There are a myriad of materials and tools available for retraction of the soft tissue - and it’s ok to mix and match to optimize patient outcomes. This CE webinar will review options for tissue management, both of the physical and chemical varieties to assist in maintaining a dry restorative field in many of our day-to-day procedures.

Learning Objectives:

• Why tissue management is important, and not just for impressions
• Materials and armamentarium to increase the likelihood of a dry restorative field
• Case selection for use of different soft tissue retraction options

Suggested Format: Evening or webinar program.