8:30am – 11:30am  (AM courses only, no PM courses)

Dr. Bill Claytor: Strategies to Mitigate Opioid Prescribing in the Dental Office &
Mental Health Issues Affecting Our Dental Practices
Course Type: Lecture
CE Credit: 3 hours (this course meets the NCSBDE requirement for 1 hour of Opioid CE and 1 hour of mental health/substance abuse CE)
Course Desciption:
In 2023, Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the leading illicit drug associated with opioid overdose deaths. This N.C. State Board-approved opioid course will review and update the ongoing opioid epidemic in the U. S., its impact on our country, and how it may affect our dental care. Please join me as I discuss these ever-changing and relevant topics that potentially can affect our dental teams, practices, and lives.
Learning Objectives:

• Emphasis will placed on drug-seekers who doctor shop plus new research on initial opioid exposure and its potential effects on our adolescent patients.
• Discuss measures dentists can implement “Monday morning” to effectively treat their patient’s pain while mitigating opioid use.
• Examine evidence-based studies to support the use of the acetaminophen and ibuprofen combination as the best response for most patient’s discomfort. Explore new long-acting anesthetics and when to implement as it relates to complete patient pain management.
• Examine and discuss the effects stress, anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and substance abuse can have on our mental health and how it may affect our dental practices.

Dr. John Olmsted: Hands on Course: Excellent and Efficient Endodontic Workshop
Course Type: Hands-On Workshop (Space is limited, pre-registration required)
CE Credit: 3 hours
Course Description: 
Do you wonder which Endo instrument is the safest and most efficient? Are you tired with lateral condensing of accessory points? This half day evidence based hands-on course will provide you cutting edge rotary/reciprocation instrumentation with new flexible and safe files; location of calcified canals and MB2; and obturation of the root canal system utilizing bio ceramic sealer.
Learning Objectives: 
1. Demonstrate location of canals with special burs.
2. Utilize rotary and reciprocation instrumentation.
3. Exhibit obturation with bio ceramic sealer.

Dr. Robert Lowe: Bioactive Dental Materials: The Future is Now!
Course Type: Lecture
CE Credit: 3 hours
Course Description: 
We live in a time when many of our patients are living into the eighth decade of life and beyond.  Teeth that have been prepared and restored several times, may not go the distance.  The “watch and wait” philosophy and diagnosing dental decay with an explorer is no longer a standard of care.  Dental restoratives are no longer inert materials that merely occupy the space made by the cavity preparation. Cavity liners and restorative materials now have the capability of helping to rebuild and remineralize affected tooth structure and help protect the teeth from acid attack.  Learn when and where use of these materials is indicated.  Today’s new “smart” materials, in combination with efficient finishing techniques will enable simple, yet “world class” placement of state of the art restorations for your patients tomorrow!
Learning Objectives: 
Each participant will learn:

• About the latest “tools” for early diagnosis of dental decay – beyond the “x-ray and explorer”. 
• Techniques for conservative, minimal preparation of carious lesions that conserve a maximum amount of tooth structure.  What is the difference between “infected” dentin and “affected” dentin?
• What are bioactive dental materials and how can they help in the repair “sick” teeth?
• Finishing and polishing techniques that create natural surface texture and reflections.

Karen Gregory: Be Calm + Follow  the Rules! An OSHA and Infection Control Review
Course Type: Lecture
CE Credit: 3 hours
Course Description: 
This fast paced, lively session will describe how to position your practice to follow applicable state and federal safety regulations and will meet the annual training requirement of the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. Additional topics include a review of the Hazard Communication Standard, fire safety and tips on reducing the likelihood of workplace violence. DUWL safety and basic instrument processing tips will also be reviewed.  Be sure to attend this session if safetyf workers and patient is a priority!
 Learning Objectives:

• Recall signs, symptoms, and mode of transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
• Discuss the risks associated exposure to blood or bloody fluids and prevention methods.
• Describe infection prevention methods that will reduce the likelihood of exposure to blood or other bloody fluids.
• Discuss the importance of treatment of dental unit waterline
• List four (4) important steps in instrument processing.