Corporate Sponsors

Optimal Care for Your Dental Patients and Your Dental Practice

Debra Bittke, RDH  DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES - SHE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING

Thursday, September 24, 2009                     

9:45 am to 11:45 am 

This course will compare manufacturer claims and objective clinical data concerning products for oral health and the total health of your patient. The new generation of powered toothbrushes including sonic, and ultrasonic will be compared to each other and to manual brushing. A current handout will help you design optimal home care regimens based on patient-specific factors. This comprehensive summary of product information is certain to benefit your patients’ total health. The afternoon will outline new products for incorporating into your daily clinical practice. This course is ideal for the progressive clinician.

Debra Bittke, RDH, BS is founder of Dental Practice Solutions. Ms. Bittke, began her career in dentistry in 1976 as a chair side assistant and for nine years worked in the dental office as a business manager and clinical assistant. In 1984 she graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene. For numerous years she was a clinical assistant professor in the dental hygiene department at USC. Ms. Bittke was a guest lecturer for the dental practice management course at the USC School of Dentistry guiding senior dental students into the business world of dentistry. Ms. Bittke, speaks at most national dental meetings and writes for many dental journals in the United States. Ms. Bittke is known as a coach who inspires dental teams work as a synergistic team. Through her coaching your team will be able to accept, adjust and acquire ownership of the adopted changes. While building positive relationships within the team members the end result will be an increase in profitability of your practice.  

Sponsored in part by 3M

Advanced Instrumentation Workshop

Catherine Fairfield, RDH

Thursday, September 24, 2009                     

9:45 am to 11:45 am

This workshop is designed to meet the needs of each clinician, with individualized hands-on instruction.  The focus is placed on advanced instrumentation techniques, improved operator positioning for better access and ergonomics, as well as detecting instrumentation ‘endpoint’.  Instrument sharpening techniques will also be reviewed, upon request.  This course is ideal for all clinicians, regardless of experience levels.

Catherine Fairfield RDH, graduated from the dental hygiene program at the University of Alberta in 1989.  She has 20 years of experience in private periodontal practices in Calgary, Alberta and is currently practicing in both periodontal and prosthodontic disciplines.   Catherine contributed as a part-time clinical educator and guest lecturer in the Graduate Periodontal program at the University of British Columbia for 6 years.  She currently provides educational seminars in non-surgical periodontal therapy, adjunctive therapies for the treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, dental implant maintenance therapy, and hands-on advanced instrumentation workshops.  Catherine spends a portion of her consulting time as the Post-Secondary Program Liaison for Ondine Biopharma Corporation. During 2008, Catherine provided educational training seminars to dental professionals from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal as well as into the United States and across Canada.  Throughout 2006 and 2007, she presented at Under One Roof Dental Hygiene Conference in Washington, D.C., the California State Dental Hygiene Components Meeting, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association National Conference, the Pacific Dental Conference, the Ontario Dental Hygiene Conference, the Northwest Dental Exposition, the Dr. Murray Arlin Study Club of Toronto,   the Ottawa Spring Dental Hygiene Rhapsody, the Saskatchewan Scientific Session, the New Brunswick Dental Society, the Calgary District Dental Society, and for various study clubs and private practices across Canada.  Catherine continues to provide consulting services and present on behalf of various companies in the dental industry and has just completed 7 years as a member of the Competence Committee for the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta.

Sponsored by

Advanced Periodontal Instrumentation - What They Didn’t Teach You in Hygiene School

Anna Matsuishi Pattison, RDH, MA  -  Editor in Chief, Dimensions of Dental Hygiene

USC  Associate Professor,  Former Dental Hygiene  Chair  -  Co-author of the text book  Periodontal Instrumentation

Friday, September 25, 2009, 8:45 am to 11:45 am and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, 6 CE’s

In the past five years significant developments in new high-tech diagnostic devices, hand instruments and ultrasonic tips, and techniques have changed the way we teach and practice.  This presentation will update you on the latest theory and technique.  New videotapes recorded with the dental endoscope within the last few months will reveal the location of residual calculus and the action of various ultrasonic tips and hand instruments on burnished calculus.

Topics of discussion:

• Periodontal ultrasonography, voice activated probing, ACP products

• Fluoride varnishes, calculus and caries detection devices and other new diagnostic tools debridement of biofilm vs. removal of calculus - how important is  root planing?

• New diamond coated instruments, furcation curets and other new hand instruments

• New piezo and magnetostrictive ultrasonic units and tips

• Common clinical technique problems and solutions

• New fulcrums with 3:00-5:00 positions for scaling deep mandibular and maxillary pockets

Sponsored in part by PDT  

Cha, Cha, Changing

Understanding Perimenopause in Ourselves and Our Patients

Kelli Swanson Jaecks, RDH, MA

Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 8 am  to Noon,  4 CE’s

Perimenopause and menopause will affect most of the 153 million women in the United States today. The aging female experiences hormonal changes that effect many body systems, bringing signs and symptoms that can range from annoying to debilitating. What can be done about these symptoms? What are bio-identical hormones and how do they work? How can I support others in my life that are facing this transition? This course will bring understanding to the how’s and why’s of bodily changes and offer solutions to living healthy, fulfilled lives during this season of life. Women will be empowered to manage their symptoms and make choices that work for them. An attitude of celebrating change will help participants understand how to help themselves, their patients and all women in their lives. 

After attending this presentation, the participant should be able to:

• Understand the clinical definition of perimenopause and menopause

• Identify signs and symptoms of perimenopause

• Describe systemic systems affected by hormonal changes; vasomotor, cognitive, vulvavaginal, skeletal, and dental

• Identify coping skills to manage the change of life

• Assess the use of bio-identical hormones in management therapies

• Describe the role of the dental professional in understanding and educating patients

Kelli Swanson Jaecks, RDH, MA holds a Master’s degree from Oregon State University in Communication and Adult Education, where she taught Leadership and Public Speaking. 

International Heart Institute  ~  Distinguished Panel

Thursday, September 24, 2009 

1 pm to 5 pm, 4 CE’s

Richard Goulah, MD,  “Thou Shall Not”

Dr Goulah, is a fellowship  trained  and board certified  Cardiologist .  He  graduated from St. George University Medical school and received  post graduate training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology  at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark, NJ. 

Steven Tahata, MD,  “Heart Rhythms ~ Sputters and Flutters”. 

Dr. Tahata is a fellowship trained  Cardio and Thoracic  surgeon.  He graduated from  McGill University Medical school as well as receiving surgical  and cardiovascular surgical training at McGill in Montreal, Quebec.  He did his Heart Valve Fellowship  in  Missoula  at the International Heart Institute. 

Joe Knapp, MD,   “Cardiac Patients in Your Practice, What's Important to Know”

Dr. Knapp is a fellowship trained and board certified Cardiologist.  He graduated from Georgetown  University  School of Medicine and  received post graduate training in  Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Arizona Health Sciences  in Tucson, Arizona.

Leah Kludt BSN.RN.CVRN,  “Why Women are at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease”

Leah has been a cardiac nurse at St. Patrick’s Hospital for over  10 years.  The last three years she has been with the International  Heart Institute, working as a Physician Agent, helping the IHI team of seven cardiologists care for their patients.  Leah holds a cardiac specialty with a cardiac-vascular certification (CVRN) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the last 5 years.  She is the RN coordinator for the Women’s Heart Health Program established two years ago, and has over 250 participants!  Leah believes prevention is the key and is passionate about helping women to identify and reduce their risk factors for cardiovascular disease.