Our goal as dental professionals should be to maximize the lifetime of our patients’ dentition. Every time tooth structure must be removed with a handpiece, the lifetime of that tooth is reduced.  Conservative dentistry aims to remove as little tooth as possible during restorative procedures in order to better extend the lifetime of each tooth. Adhesive dentistry helps us achieve this goal.  Adhesive dentistry allows us to bond to tooth structure such that minimally invasive preparations may be performed.  The goal of this course is to discuss conservative treatment options as well as the materials and techniques used to perform these treatments.

 

For direct restorations, diagnosis, isolation, caries removal, cavity preparation, use of liner, matrix and wedge placement, bonding technique, composite placement, and finishing and polishing will all be reviewed.  For indirect restorations, this course will discuss how to select, handle and bond contemporary dental ceramic materials.

 

The presentation will be based on current evidence collected at the UAB School of Dentistry as well as the current literature, however, the information will focus on tips that can be applied directly in the dental clinic.

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Course objectives

1. Discuss treatment guidelines for interproximal caries and caries removal endpoints.

2. Discover materials and techniques to promote a long lasting adhesive bond and create a well-adapted restoration.

3. Analyze matrix utilization and contouring instruments to achieve a tight and well-contoured contact.

4. Review the different types of dental ceramic materials

5. Choosing a ceramic material for anterior restorations

6. Preparation and design considerations for posterior crowns and bridges

7. Strategies to adjust, polish and cut off ceramic crowns

8. Review the indications for bonding dental ceramics

9. Present a protocol for preparing the surface of ceramic crowns (ie etching, sandblasting, priming, cleaning)

10. Classify the types of cements used for adhesive bonding

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note: This course can be broken up into 2 half day courses titled "Materials and Techniques for Indirect Restorations" and "Materials and Techniques for Direct Restorations"

This lecture covers the diagnosis of caries lesions and provides guidance on appropriate thresholds for intervention. An evidence-based framework for developing an individualized prevention plan is outlined, addressing diet, hygiene, salivary flow, the oral microbiome, and pH control. The evidence for xylitol, hydroxyapatite toothpaste, antibacterials, probiotics, and other preventive agents is reviewed.

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Course objectives

1. Learn the current evidence for caries initiation thresholds

2. Identify risk factors for high caries risk patients and learn specific treatments

3. Understand the evidence supporting various caries prevention products

Once you start looking for them, it is surprising how many patients present with surface and sub-surface enamel discolorations. Many of these patients would welcome treatment if offered an option more conservative than veneers or composite bonding. Two such options exist: microabrasion, which removes up to 100 microns of the outer enamel layer, and resin infiltration, which removes a portion of the outer enamel and infiltrates an unfilled resin into the resulting space. Although both techniques are straightforward to perform, there are practical considerations that determine whether lesions are correctly diagnosed and optimally treated.

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Course objectives

1. Learn how to diagnose which enamel discolorations are amenable to microinvasive treatment

2. Become comfortable isolating teeth prior to resin infiltration

3. Learn the clinical steps for performing resin infiltration