Fundamentals of Dentistry

Course Overview: One of our most popular programs, this hands-on program was designed to quickly bring practitioners with little or no previous experience with oral disease recognition and treatment “up to speed.” Combining the essential disciplines over 3 days; Radiology, Oral Surgery and Periodontal disease treatment will be taught through interactive lectures and focused wet-labs. Doctors will learn clinical anatomy, the complete dental exam with charting, oral prophylaxis in addition to open curettage and bone augmentation.

Session 1. Objective: Using a multitude of clinical images we start by first quantifying what is considered normal oral anatomy in both dog and cats. We than pair the clinical pathological presentation of what the practitioner sees in an oral exam with that of its radiographic finding. After which we discuss the equipment, materials and technique in getting good images. Class participants will effectively learn how to recognize normal versus abnormal disease states and employ current techniques in treatment.

*Friday Session 1 Topic: Oral Pathology / Oral Radiology (seminar)

Start Time of Session: Friday   8:15a.m.

Stop Time of Session: Friday 12:15 p.m.

Total hours of CE: 4 hours of CE

Method of Delivery: (Interactive Seminar Lecture)

Subject Matter:

 • Origins of Oral Dental Disease Familial vs. Acquired Lesions

• Pathology of Tooth #’s, Form & Position

• Jaw Growth Abnormalities & Classification of Malocclusions

• Oral Soft Tissue Acquired Abnormalities

• Periodontal Disease, Trauma, Endodontic Disease

• Congenital and Neoplastic Disease

• Radiographic Equipment and Materials

• Radiographic Techniques

Session 2. Objective:  The laboratory will consist of 8 stations. 4 stations of shooting radiographs, 4 stations of interpretation. The participants are grouped and proceed through the stations alternating between shooting and interpreting. Each of the shooting stations are either on cat or dog cadavers or skulls with specific assigned views that the participants need to be able to position for. The interpretive stations are designed to challenge the participant’s diagnostic skills and treatment recommendations

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*Friday Session 2 Topic: Oral Pathology / Oral Radiology (lab)

Start Time of Session: Friday  1:00 p.m.

Stop Time of Session: Friday  5:00 p.m.

Total hours of CE:4 hours of CE

Method of Delivery: (Wet Lab Techniques & Interpretation of Oral Radiography and Pathology)

Subject Matter: Hands-on techniques in capturing and understanding images and evaluation of clinical cases from clinical images and their radiographic presentation

Session 3. Objective: The interactive morning lecture in periodontics will cover clinical anatomy of the periodontium as it relates to oral health, disease and it’s treatment. The foundations of the dental exam, and oral prophylaxis for the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease will be thoroughly covered.

*Saturday Session 3 Topic: Periodontology

Start Time of Session: Saturday 8:15a.m

Stop Time of Session: Saturday 12:15p.m

Total hours of CE: 4 hours of CE

Method of Delivery:  ( Interactive Seminar Lecture

Subject Matter:

·       Normal periodontal anatomy

·       Positional terminology

·       Malocclusions as they relate to oral evaluation and pathology

·       Periodontal disease: etiology, symptoms, stages and treatment options

·       The thorough dental prophylaxis

·       Pocket reductions using local and topical antibiotic and esterified fatty acids

·       Bone augmentation and open curettage

·       Surgical gingivectomies

Session 4. Objective:  The laboratory portion involves performing a complete oral exam and appropriate charting. Dental cleaning with ultrasonics and piezoscalers plus hand instrumentation. Pocket reduction will be performed by open and closed root planning and curettage, utilization of Doxirobe and it’s placement and bone grafting of created lesions on the specimen. In addition gingivectomies will be performed with electroscapels.

*Saturday Session 4 Topic: Laboratory on Periodontics

Start Time of Session: Saturday 1:00 p.m

Stop Time of Session:  Saturday 5:00 p.m

Total hours of CE: 4 hours of CE

Method of Delivery:  (Hands-on Laboratory)

Subject Matter:

·       Complete Dental Assessment and Prophylaxis

·       Proper use of Doxirobe

·       Bone Augmentation and open curettage

·       Electrosurgical gingivectomies.

Session 5. Objective: In this interactive lecture the participants are exposed to the rationales behind deciding to extract a tooth. Understanding the appropriate selection of equipment and instuments and their correct utilization is critical to prevent injury to the patient. The anatomy of the tooth and it’s adjacent structures are emphasized so the veterinarian’s approach to a surgical removal of teeth have a specific methodology. The most common extraction complications are discussed with their appropriate handling.

*Sunday Session 5 Topic: Surgical Extractions Canine & Feline Exodontia  (Seminar)

Start Time of Session: Sunday  8:15 a.m.

Stop Time of Session: Sunday 12:15 p.m.

Total hours of CE: 4 hours of CE

Method of Delivery: (Interactive Seminar Lecture)

Subject Matter:

·       Indications for Exodontia

·       Retained teeth, Interceptive Ortho, Impactions, Disarming, Treatment for LPGS in cats

·        Procedures for surgical extractions of the canine teeth, maxillary and mandibular  premolars and molars

·       Instrumentation and Materials for Exodontia

·       Dealing with Complications of Surgery

Session 6 Objective: Through the use of video footage, the techniques incorporated to surgically extract various cat and dog teeth are explored. These videos which are captioned are played during the laboratory so that the participants can pattern their own approaches to extractions after the step by step analysis shown on the videos. The self exploration of one’s techniques are evaluated by the instructor in order to minimalize operator and patient harm and the successful outcomes of the extraction are achieved by the doctor. This 4-hr wetlab will enable the practitioner to have adequate time to incorporate what was learned to successfully extract the 4 most demanding teeth in  canine and felines. Since it is anticipated that the cadavers will have variations of age and size, the extractions will vary in degrees of difficulty which will challenge the doctors. Out of which the instructor will discuss modifications of approaches to achieve success.  

Sunday Session 6 Topic: Surgical Extractions  (Laboratory)

Start Time of Session: Sunday 1:00 p.m

Stop Time of Session: Sunday 5:00 p.m

Total Hours of CE: 4 hour of CE

Method of Delivery: (Hands-on Wetlab)