Top dentists come together to save natural teeth
June 12, 2014
In an unprecedented move, the American Association of Endodontists, the American Academy of Periodontology, and the American College of Prosthodontists will come together to tackle this issue at their 2014 Joint Symposium, Teeth for a Lifetime: Interdisciplinary Evidence for Clinical Success. The weekend conference, to be held July 19-20 in Chicago, will bring together an array of inspiring speakers and thought leaders from the three dental specialties to discuss advanced treatments and evidence-based best practices for saving natural teeth. Participants can earn up to 10.5 CE credits. As dentists, a shared goal is to save the patient’s tooth whenever possible. Endodontists, periodontists, and prosthodontists alike believe that evidence-based treatment planning produces better patient outcomes. Each specialty has made advances in the art and science of dentistry, making long-term preservation of the natural dentition attainable. Recent scientific innovations in regenerative procedures have made restoring lost periodontal tissues and the structural development of immature teeth more predictable than ever.ADDITIONAL READING |Regenerative endodontics With this in mind, the goal of this symposium is simple: to provide new perspectives and skills to specialty dental practices through integrated treatment planning. Attendees will hear the best available evidence, learn contemporary techniques and walk away with real-life tools to work with their colleagues across the restorative disciplines to save patients’ natural teeth.ADDITIONAL READING |Guided tissue regeneration: background to current indications and applications “Attending dentists will develop an appreciation for comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment planning and learn new approaches to collaborating with fellow specialists in our patients’ best interests,” said Dr. Alan H. Gluskin, Joint Symposium Planning Committee chair and AAE member. “We need to recognize that the nature of dental practice is changing; that independent practitioners and independent groups are declining and more interdisciplinary structures are ascending. This is the future of treatment planning.” Speakers at the symposium represent the best in the endodontic, periodontal and prosthodontic fields, and include Drs. Ove Peters, Maurice A. Salama, and John A. Sorenson, among others. The first half of this unique educational program will present the evidence for preserving the natural dentition in the literature of each specialty; discuss diagnostic and assessment methods used in determining the structural and periodontal prognosis of teeth; identify the most contemporary surgical and restorative therapeutics to restore disease and protect the functioning dentition; describe the use of three-dimensional dental imaging in diagnosis and treatment planning; and define regenerative therapies and describe the indications and treatment procedures required for success in periodontal disease and teeth with immature root formation. The second day of the event will focus on interdisciplinary communication and a team approach to restorative therapies. “Helping patients maintain and keep their teeth and ensuring supporting structures are healthy, beautiful, and functioning are fundamental goals for every practicing dentist,” said Dr. Lily T. Garcia, ACP Education Foundation chair. “Having this multidisciplinary symposium will highlight some of our top dentists across three specialties sharing when, why and how all dentists can determine if that tooth can and should be saved for the patient’s benefit.” The Joint Symposium agenda includes informal opportunities to network with colleagues and speakers. Following the event, proceedings from the conference will be shared with the dental community. Specialists and general dentists alike are invited to register online for the meeting. Complete program details and fees are available at www.aae.org/teethforalifetime.Learn more about these organizations:American Association of EndodontistsAmerican Academy of PeriodontologyAmerican College of Prosthodontists