Provisional Restorations for Esthetic Dentistry
Presented by Dr. Charlie Ward
Description:
Exceptional provisional restorations not only allow us build trust with our patients, but also provide a test drive for the improved esthetics and occlusion; they are a protype for the final restorations. This presentation will discuss the fabrication both direct and indirect provisional restorations as well as custom staining and communicating this tested design with the laboratory.
Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate the importance of an ideal wax-up in great provisional restorations.
- Discuss direct and indirect fabrication of provisional restorations including 3D printed designs.
- How to custom stain provisionals for improved esthetics and shade matching.
- Step by step instructions for predictable veneer provisionals.
From Detection to Direction: The Clinical Value of Fremitus in Anterior Esthetics
Presented by Dr. Michelle Lee
Description:
Anterior Esthetic failures are often blamed on materials and techniques, yet the underlying cause frequently lies in unrecognized functional overload. Fremitus is a visible, tactile sign of occlusal instability, offering clinicians a powerful but underutilized diagnostic clue. This presentation explores the why and how of fremitus, moving beyond the definition. Fremitus will be applied to clinical applications and participants will learn the connection to occlusal dysfunction as well as the correlation to the Temporomandibular Joint. In this presentation, the connection between the TM Joint, occlusion, and clinical examples will provide the participant with a sound understanding of Fremitus in Anterior Esthetics.
Learning Objectives:
- Define fremitus and explain its biomechanical significance in relation to occlusal forces and anterior tooth instability
- Identify the clinical signs of fremitus through proper examination, including functional assessment during mandibular movements
- Use fremitus and anterior deprogrammers as a diagnostic directional tool to guide your treatment in anterior esthetic cases
- Create a guideline through a case-based example showcasing fremitus, treatment planning and final anterior esthetics.
Direct Restorative Dentistry: From Isolation to Finishing—A Comprehensive Approach
Presented by Dr. Ashton Prince
Description:
This comprehensive lecture explores the contemporary practice of direct dental restorations, focusing on evidence-based protocols and material selection strategies. Participants will examine the complete restorative workflow—from isolation through final finishing—while gaining insight into comparative material properties and emerging technologies. The course emphasizes clinical decision-making frameworks for selecting appropriate materials based on patient-specific factors. Attendees will learn standardized protocols for isolation techniques, surface preparation, adhesive systems, composite products and placement, and finishing procedures. Additionally, the lecture will survey current innovations and future directions in direct restorative materials, equipping practitioners with knowledge to integrate new technologies into their clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Apply evidence-based isolation protocols to ensure optimal moisture control and contamination prevention during direct restorative procedures.
- Execute proper tooth surface preparation techniques, including cleaning protocols that maximize bond strength while preserving tooth structure.
- Evaluate and select appropriate bonding systems based on clinical scenarios, understanding the differences between etching techniques and their applications with adhesive approaches.
- Compare composite restorative materials by analyzing their physical properties, handling characteristics, polymerization shrinkage, wear resistance, and optical properties to make informed material selections.
- Implement systematic finishing and polishing protocols using appropriate instruments and materials to achieve optimal esthetics, contour, and surface smoothness.
- Identify emerging technologies and materials in direct restorative dentistry.
- Develop clinical decision-making strategies for material selection based on location, size, patient risk factors, and functional demands.
From Science to Chairside: Understanding Restorative Material Behavior
Presented by Dr. Sabiha Bunek
Description:
This science-driven segment examines the foundational principles that govern restorative dentistry, emphasizing the biological, chemical, and physical mechanisms underlying material performance and tooth–restoration interactions. The course integrates current research findings with clinical relevance, enabling practitioners to critically evaluate materials, interpret scientific literature, and apply evidence-based reasoning to restorative decision-making. By strengthening understanding of the science behind restorative systems, this segment empowers clinicians to optimize outcomes, minimize failure, and adapt confidently to evolving materials and technologies.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the key scientific factors that influence how restorative materials bond, set, and perform clinically over time.
- Identify common material-related causes of restorative failure and relate them to underlying material properties and clinical conditions.
- Use basic material science principles to make informed, evidence-based choices in restorative materials and techniques for everyday clinical practice.
Dr. Sabiha Bunek
President & CEO – DENTAL ADVISOR
Owner – Bunek Dental Studio
Dr. Sabiha Bunek is President and CEO of DENTAL ADVISOR, where she leads a team delivering evidence-based insights on the clinical and laboratory performance of dental products and equipment. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, she also maintains a private practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She serves as President of the Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry and on Harvard’s Board of Fellows, is an award-winning educator, a highly sought-after international speaker, and a widely published researcher.
Dr. Ashton Prince
Chief Editor – DENTAL ADVISOR
Owner – Mesa View Dental
Dr. Ashton Prince, Chief Editor for DENTAL ADVISOR, graduated from the UNLV School of Dental Medicine and practices in Southern Utah. Beyond clinical work, he serves as a Key Opinion Leader for a number of dental companies, is the supervising dentist for Utah Tech University's Hygiene program Pain Management Department, and lectures nationally on practice management, technology, and restorative materials. Dr. Prince is committed to conservative dentistry, patient education, and comprehensive interdisciplinary care.
Dr. Michelle Lee
Clinical Ambassador – DENTAL ADVISOR
Owner – Fleetwood Dental
Dr. Michelle Lee is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and completed her residency at Abington Memorial Hospital. She owns a comprehensive restorative practice in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, focusing on treating from the health of the TM Joint to comprehensive dentistry. A Pankey Scholar since 2008, she serves on the Pankey Board and Pankey Faculty. Dr. Lee also teaches restorative microscope dentistry at UPenn and integrates it into her private clinical practice.
Dr. Charlie Ward
Clinical Ambassador – DENTAL ADVISOR
Owner/Partner – Baltimore Dental Arts
Dr. Charlie Ward is a lead faculty member at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida, teaching courses in Esthetic Dentistry, Photography and Treatment Planning. He is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a clinical ambassador for Dental Advisor and a member of the editorial advisory board for Dental Economics. He maintains a private practice in Baltimore, MD.
