This series of presentations will look at aspects of tooth wear and provide an overview of the procedures involved in assessment, diagnosis and the conservative restorative management of patients presenting with worn and broken down dentitions. Techniques for restoration and long-term maintenance of the patient’s dentition will be discussed and evaluated in relation to determining the most appropriate intervention strategies.

Erosion, corrosion, acid wear – how to spot it and what to do about it

Diagnostic keys. The importance of good saliva. Reflux and what can be done about it. Prevention. The role of mineralising agents.

Attrition, abrasion, abfraction – what’s really going on?

Diagnostic keys. The overlap with acidic effects. Does abfraction exist? Is it the tooth brush? Do splints work?

Restorative rehabilitation of the broken down dentition-getting

An overview of how to address the patient with significant tooth structure loss. How to gain restorative space. The use of wax ups and keys. The Dahl principals. Pros and cons of direct and indirect materials.

Presented by Professor Ian Meyers

This presentation will look at aspects of tooth wear and provide an overview of the procedures involved in assessment, diagnosis and the conservative restorative management of patients presenting with worn and broken-down dentitions. Techniques for restoration and long-term maintenance of the patient’s dentition will be discussed and evaluated in relation to determining the most appropriate intervention strategies.

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify and assess the various aspects of tooth wear
• Develop appropriate management strategies and treatment plans based on patient risk profiles
• Assess the range of restoration options for rehabilitation of worn and broken-down dentitions
• Review restorative outcomes and recognise the need for ongoing maintenance programs.

All things resorptive

Presented by Dr Sasaluck Pakdeethai

This session provides an overview of all the resorptive lesions that can affect teeth and will include discussion of their aetiology, diagnosis and prognosis. Contemporary thinking regarding treatment planning and management of such lesions will be outlined.

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify various types of tooth resorption
• Understand aetiology of tooth resorption
• Provide appropriate treatment options.

An update on modern thinking about the caries process

Presented by Professor David Manton

Dental caries still affects most Australians but management of the carious lesion has changed considerably in the past decade. The caries process is now better understood and this knowledge allows the patient and clinician to modify caries risk if they change their behaviour. The decision to restore a lesion has long-lasting consequences, and recommendations regarding how much tissue to remove are also changing. These issues will be discussed along with remineralising technologies and minimally invasive techniques.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the caries process
• Apply minimum intervention dentistry principles
• Identify individuals at increased caries risk
• Reduce the caries burden on compliant patients
• Identify appropriate products to treat early carious lesions.

Gingival recession and papillary loss – why and how to prevent it

Presented by Dr Stephen Cottrell

The presence of adequate gingival tissues around teeth and dental implants not only affects general aesthetics in the anterior zone, it plays an important functional role. There is a close relationship between the bone anatomy and gingival anatomy. Dimensionally, how much gingival tissue do we need around teeth? If there is a deficiency, what are the consequences and how can it be corrected?

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the relationship of gingival tissues to teeth and bone
• Recognise the causes of gingival recession
• Implement measures to prevent gingival recession
• Identify appropriate measures to correct gingival recession and their limitations.