Teaching, research and clinical practice are the foundation that supports dentistry. It is important to understand that without research and teaching our specialties would become a simple pedagogic exercise. We believe that dentistry should be based in scientific evidence. Clinical practice is no longer accepted without it being supported by scientific work that ensures its effectiveness. It is for this reason that old mechanical concepts were surpassed by the "adhesive era".

Occlusion: (Presentation)

The Myth and the Dogmas collide somewhere deep in the universe to make occlusion the most feared and misunderstood topic in dentistry. Well… we say enough is enough. It is time to discuss occlusion to finally apply its concepts with your first patient Monday morning. From single units to full mouth rehabilitations. From laminate veneers to posterior onlays. Let's break it down to simplicity.

The objective of this part of the course is to develop the following abilities in students:

• To understand that the use of laminate veneers must be interpreted as a complex oral rehabilitation where the principles of occlusion are the foundation for success.
• To develop a predictable occlusal analysis approach in order to achieve a comprehensive diagnosis for full mouth rehabilitations as well as quadrant dentistry.
• To be able to predict and prevent restorative and biological complications in any dental scenario by properly evaluating occlusal presentations.

Provisionalization: (Hands On)

From single tooth to full mouth rehabilitations, provisional are under appreciated. How many times are you going to have to bring your patient back to fix a provisional because it came out of it fractured? How many times are you going to let the patient walk out of the clinic with a provisional that you know does not look great? Well… enough is enough. It is time to discuss and practice how to properly provisionalize your patients for your own peace of mind.

The objective of this part of the course is to develop the following abilities in students:

• The development and understanding of the role of mock-up from the wax up to the mouth.
• Full demonstration and students’ hands on experience
• Silicone key fabrication and management.
• Soft tissue considerations and precautions.
• The learning and improvement of the necessary techniques for the temporization in many clinical schemes for laminate veneers.
• All Hands On

Impression Techniques. (Presentation)

As digital impressions revolutionized our profession, many dentists continue to struggle with the now “Old Fashioned” PVS impression. But no system can cover all the bases and analog impressions are still part of our routine. When everyone is saying move to digital, we say do so, but don’t forget that digital has a steep learning curve as well. Suffering through impression taking should not be part of your schedule. Enough is enough. Let’s get good at it.

The objective of this part of the course is to develop the following abilities in students:

• To review the different forms of tissue expansion techniques in existence.
• To understand their pros, cons, and indications.
• To become familiar with many impression techniques as well as with The Back to Back Double Cord Technique that Dr. Miguel A. Ortiz has perfected.

CADCAM Dental Materials: (Presentation)

If you are not milling and staining your restorations in office, your lab is doing it for you. But at the end of the day they all come from cad cam materials. It is time to understand all the materials in the market in an easy and didactic way, like only Dr. Miguel A. Ortiz can do. Many dentists struggle to choose the right system for their office. The high financial costs of such systems make the decision nerve wracking. Some dentists realize however, that having the system in house brings with it another dilemma. Which material is the best chair side CADCAM material to use? Can they all be “The Best” or ‘The Strongest” as the manufacturers advertise? During this presentation we will review every single CAD CAM Block/material known on the market today. By the end of it you will have the scientific reason why you only need to consider 4 materials from all those in existence to cover all your clinical needs.

The objective of this part of the course is to develop the following abilities in students:

• To categorize and learn all CAD CAM chairside dental materials in the market.
• To understand their differences based on their molecular, chemical, and crystalline composition.
• To evaluate the main characteristics that we should care about when comparing them.
• To scientifically select the only 4 materials that should be used in your clinic for every possible clinical scenario.
• Yes, Only 4 blocks are scientifically proven to be the best. We will tell you which those are.

CADCAM Dental Materials: (Hands On)

The best part of this course, Hands on dental materials!!!

Regardless of whether you have an in-office milling system or if you are getting your restorations from the lab, we all know that sometimes it would be great if we could confidently modify them or improve them. Having to send them back to the office to adjust shade, contact, characterization, etc, can be extremely frustrating and time consuming. Let us help you with that. During our second hands on session, you will be able to modify ceramic restorations live. Contouring, shade modification, adding contacts, staining and more. Real restorations, real materials, real day to day tips that will improve your clinical practice

The OPIC Science Experience. A scientifically based Dogma Killer that will allow you to apply every principle and technique immediately back in the clinic Monday morning. Two years in the making. Finally here. We hope to see you there.

Cordially

Dr. Miguel A. Ortiz & Dr. Carlos De Carvalho