(2-hour presentation)
This course is designed for a general dentist or prosthodontist to be able to recognize the signs of occlusal and TMJ instability in patients requiring simple to complex restorative treatment. Even with the advent of many “unbreakable’ materials and multi-generational improvements in adhesive technology, dentists face the dilemma of fracture and failure with ceramic materials. In addition, patients experience unsatisfactory esthetic results from a lack of proper planning and verification. Dentists graduate without the exposure to treating these cases due to the patient pool available and the restrictions of the time and experience of dental school. Yet, patients seek our care in ever-increasing numbers due to changes in attitudes resulting in the retention of teeth later in life with the expectation of remaining whole and attractive for a lifetime.
This course will provoke the attendee to understand why adhering to better materials and a sound restorative protocol is insufficient to solve complex cases predictably. The attendee will learn a 4 step pathway from complete exam and records, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional treatment planning, fabrication and verification of provisional prototypes, resulting in predictable functional esthetic definitive restorations. Several case studies are included in the 2-hour presentation.
Course Objectives
- Recognize Occlusal Disease in a general practice
- Learn when to treat within the existing occlusion (MI) and when to begin in centric relation based on the TMJ-Occlusal examination.
- Learn to recognize when the size, shape, and contour of a patients teeth works for them and when it must be corrected.
- Learn the diagnostic records needed for an accurate diagnosis leading to a complete treatment plan for a complex restorative case.
- Learn the 4 steps to follow in sequence for a predictable result in complex restorative cases.
