2021 Speaker Series - Occlusion

Occlusion. It can be one of the driest and most confusing of subjects. It is, however, one of the most, if not the most critical aspect of diagnosis and treatment planning when it comes to the longevity of the restorative dentistry that we provide for our patients.  During this interactive lecture, Dr. Melkers will guide an exploration and discussion of where we have been as a profession, where we are in our understanding and what mysteries still need to be solved.  We will look at a dots and lines-understanding of the basic components and rationale for occlusal design, from one tooth to full mouth application. Joint position - when is it important and when does it not really matter - and occlusion you can use.  We'll discuss why your restorations are breaking and what can you do about it, as well as the what, why, and how of bite splints and occlusal guards.  Occlusal design in case planning and application, custom incisal guide table, and moving the information to your technician and keeping the details straight - all supported by cases, cases, and more case so you can see actual application.

The program will be a journey in and out of the confusion that we have believed and applied as a profession - what worked, what didn't and why. The fundamentals and theory of occlusion will be discussed but also supported with real world applications and case examples.  If you are a one tooth dentist looking to be a two tooth dentist, or if you are a few teeth dentist and want to be a quadrant dentist, or if you are a quadrant, arch or already doing full mouth rehabilitations, our goal is to help make you a better dentist tomorrow.