Dental CE Course: Minor Tooth & Tissue Movement for the Non-Specialist

2-Day Hands-On Training Course
Dates: July 24 & 25, 2009

The primary goal of implant therapy should be the creation of a restoration, which reconstructs the form, function, and esthetics of edentulous spans. Achieving this goal in the partially edentulous patient can be especially challenging when the edentulous span or potential "restorative site” is not in harmony with the adjacent dentition, and/or the "esthetic zone." Such deficiencies in the restorative site often require that orthodontic therapy be included as an integral component in a multidisciplinary treatment protocol, which aims at 3-dimensional reconstruction of the site prior to implant placement.

Orthodontic tooth movement can be synergistically combined with periodontal-plastic surgical techniques and guided bone regeneration to effectively establish the optimal outline for functional and esthetic implant restorations. This presentation will highlight the benefits of such an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on the role of orthodontics in the non-surgical enhancement of soft and hard tissue dimensions, as part of “Site Development.” Team-oriented treatment planning and sequencing of therapy will similarly be emphasized.

Topics to be covered in detail:

1. What equipment and hardware are needed to start?
2. What to charge and how to schedule appointments
3. What you can do and what to refer out
4. When Invisalign or Essix retainers can work
5. How to move gum lines up or down on anterior teeth
6. How to correct anterior crowding, rotations, midline shifts & cants
7. How to extrude teeth orthodontically for soft tissue augmentation
8. Vertical bone augmentation using orthodontic tooth movement vs. distraction osteogenesis
9. Molar uprighting
10. Simple space closure techniques
11. Simple level and alignment techniques
12. Invisalign, Essix and other removable tooth movement devices
13. Spring aligners and retention

Course Objectives:

You can predictably make minor orthodontic corrections to set up your anterior restorative treatment plans! It’s easier than you might think. This course is designed to put you in the driver’s seat. Get the skills needed to make minor gingival and tooth movements. You will learn why a simple “straight-wire” technique will give you faster results and allow you to treat more problems than clear stints or other “trendy” methods.

Imagine the results you could achieve by moving certain teeth into better positions before you restore the case. Whether you want to speak on an equal plane with your orthodontic specialist or profit from the control gained by doing some minor tooth movement yourself, predictable minor tooth and tissue movement will distinguish you as a better dentist.