Practical Restorative Dentistry - 20 days

The next courses will start in September 2009 and finish in September 2010. Please register your interest early.

Introduction

Under the present UDA system, the NHS no longer funds comprehensive restorative dentistry, so whether we like it or not, the future of this now lies firmly in private practice. This structured course has been designed for practices looking to move into the private sector and offer their patients an enhanced level of service, or to those practitioners already working under private contract who wish to develop their skills and services beyond what they currently offer. It also offers the benefit of a “mentoring” relationship with highly experienced and specialist colleagues.
To be successful in this competitive field you need to provide your patients with the highest level of care, and this course has been designed with this as its major aim. The successful dental practice is one that offers its patients a comprehensive range of services, tailored to individual needs.

This course has been developed from the already successful course, “Advanced Restorative Dentistry” and has been extended to include additional sessions on treatment planning and presentation to the patient, patient communication, aesthetics and the use of provisional restorations in advanced cases. It is more than a series of lectures/practicals, it provides a cohesive structure that builds your knowledge in a logical progression. It has been designed to give you the tools to manage more complex cases, and to provide your patients with an enhanced level of care that will make your practice stand out.

It is organised and presented by practice based specialists who have many years of clinical experience in both general and specialist practices, and who also hold academic and clinical hospital posts.
The opening module focuses on patient assessment and record taking, including clinical examination, special tests, clinical photography and radiography. A risk factor analysis will enable preventive programmes to be established that are specific to each patient. The course progresses through modern concepts for the treatment of caries, and techniques for establishing a stable periodontium. Having achieved a stable mouth, many patients require more advanced restorative care, and these cases usually demand multi-disciplinary treatment planning. Developing and presenting appropriate treatment plans properly and clearly is an effective practice builder, and we will help with this often difficult area. Of equal importance is the correct pricing of treatment such that patients appreciate the additional service and the dentist is remunerated at the appropriate level.

To help you deliver these treatment plans to the highest standards, we will over the 20 days of the course, give you practical and hands on tuition in surgical and non surgical periodontology; endodontics, aesthetic dentistry including veneers, crowns and bridgework. Also removable prosthodontics, relevant occlusion, modern materials and a two day introduction to placing and restoring implants.

These sessions are led by experienced specialists, with many years of experience in the UK, US and further afield. All are involved in specialist practice and postgraduate education. It is our aim to pass on the benefit of this experience to you, fast-tracking your clinical experience and development.
Having successfully completed your treatment plan, we then consider appropriate recall and maintenance schedules, a crucial element for a good, long term prognosis.

Throughout the course, the tutors are available to provide you with advice and support, and you are welcome to bring in models, radiographs etc for any cases for which you need help.
Our aim is to provide you with the knowledge and confidence to manage and deliver high quality care across the broad spectrum of restorative dentistry.

Location

The course is held at the Postgraduate Centre in Stafford, and also in Birmingham. A location map is available. Morning sessions will start at 9-30am and afternoon sessions will end at 4-30pm. We are hoping to start a course in Bristol soon, if you register your interest we will contact you as soon as the venue is ready. The fee is £325 plus VAT per day.

Content

Importance of thorough patient assessment and record taking. How to develop and master comprehensive treatment planning and presentation to the patient. How to avoid litigation.
Current thinking on caries activity, risk and prevention. Role of saliva in protecting the teeth.
Assessment of periodontal risk, activity and prognosis. Surgical and non surgical treatment of periodontal disease, and the role of splinting.

Modern materials and their appropriate use
Latest techniques for root canal preparation and obturation

Management of the aesthetically demanding patient, the need to establish the aesthetic end-point before preparing the teeth.Treatment planning aesthetic cases. Use of diagnostic wax-ups, digital imaging and intra-oral mock-ups
Veneer and crown preparations, the aesthetic continuum from whitening to crowns.

Occlusion made simple! When and how to use a facebow and the value of articulation. Role of occlusal analysis in treatment planning. What is occlusal stability? Use of occlusal splints.

Provisional restorations
Bridgework – conventional and adhesive, including ovate pontic form
Management of tooth wear, a multidisciplinary approach.
Dental implants, planning, placement and restoration. Their role in your practice.
Removable Prosthodontics, how to deal with problem cases including flabby ridges.

How to manage the failing dental reconstruction, a problem becoming more common!