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Learn how to treat periodontal and peri-implant disease with a nonsurgical approach through didactic and hands-on clinical training workshops.
Total CE hours: 7.5 AGE PACE subject codes: 690 (Implants), 490 (Periodontics), 135 (Laser therapy/electrosurgery) Cost: Session I - $256 (includes continental breakfast, 4.0 CE) Session I & II - $524 (includes lunch, workshop, 7.5 CE)
Cancellation and refund policy A Higher Learning, LLC reserves the right to make changes to dates, times, faculty, location, content, and presentation sequence in the event of unforeseen weather, faculty, or college situations. Refund requests should be sent to Shavonne Healy at contact@ahigherlearning.co. No refunds will be granted after August 23, and a processing fee of $50 to $100 will be charged for all cancellations, depending on the type of registration.
Global experts in periodontics and restorative dentistry continue to develop and implement innovative techniques and technology. However, that mindshare is not trickling down to a practice’s most powerful team member — the dental hygienist. While hygienists continue to deliver strong evidence-based advocacy, they lack access to cutting-edge education and hands-on training. For many offices, that deficit inhibits a high standard of care and, ultimately, impacts the quality of care patients receive and the practice’s success.
The field of dentistry is currently at a critical turning point, with numerous opportunities for improvement and progress. One area that holds great promise for advancement is dental hygiene. By providing educational opportunities, we can help dental hygienists catch up and stay current with the latest advances in their field. With renewed enthusiasm and a commitment to the latest treatment options and protocols, clinicians can drive further innovation and achieve healthier patient outcomes. By embracing new technologies, techniques, and best practices, the dental community can look forward to a brighter future with improved oral health for all.
The Symposium on Preventive & Nonsurgical Dental Hygiene aims to enhance the progress of dental hygiene by providing an updated overview of techniques, instruments, equipment, and products supported by international evidence-based dental literature. These can be selectively implemented to achieve preventive and nonsurgical therapy using a patient-centered approach. The ultimate goal is to ensure that dental hygiene treatments are effective, efficient, and comfortable, leading to long-term success and better life quality for our patients.
By the time Americans reach the age of 50, they tend to have lost an average of 12 teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) has revealed that over 36 million Americans do not have any teeth.
Tooth loss can significantly impact one’s general health, leading to physical, psychological, and social disability, thereby reducing the quality of life. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared oral disease a global public health challenge, affecting millions of adults and children worldwide.
Over the last few decades, dentistry has significantly changed techniques, procedures, and patient demographics due to advances in healthcare science. Dental implants have emerged as the preferred mode of tooth replacement, exemplifying how innovative solutions can benefit millions of Americans suffering from tooth loss. However, these advancements have also given rise to new clinical challenges, such as peri-implantitis.
This program aims to discuss the oral diseases that contribute to tooth loss and their impact on the quality of life, focusing on implant dentistry.
This master class is intended for clinicians who wish to improve their expertise and proficiency in nonsurgical periodontal and peri-implant therapy. Participants will gain an extensive understanding of the potential and limitations of nonsurgical therapy for single and multi-rooted teeth and dental implants. The course will explore modified subgingival debridement techniques, state-of-the-art technologies, and the cause-related laser-assisted periodontal nonsurgical approach.
Participants will be provided with an in-depth description of the management of periodontal and implant patients, including clinical ethics, with video demonstrations and numerous illustrations. To ensure site-specific instrumentation, it is important to detect calculus or residual cement, which will be discussed with guidance on protocols for appointment schedules.
Several clinical cases, with follow-up, will be illustrated to demonstrate how the performance of patient home care can influence both the management and the clinical outcomes. Additional clinical cases will be presented, documenting satisfactory clinical stability following post-periodontal and peri-implant nonsurgical treatment, demonstrating bone re-mineralization, which is not predictable but possible.
Overall, this course is highly educational, with video demonstrations and numerous illustrations to help clinicians enhance their knowledge and skills in nonsurgical dental hygiene therapy.
The instructors will provide hands-on training in professional, comprehensive subgingival debridement techniques and novel materials and protocols on study and animal models. The course will also present clinical images, drawings, and videos of long-term cases that exemplify the concepts of nonsurgical treatment.
Instructors will provide hands-on training in professional, comprehensive subgingival debridement techniques and novel materials. Using educational and animal models, participants will practice all nonsurgical periodontal and peri-implant instrumentation techniques. The workshop will begin with manual instrumentation, as Roncati’s “tip-only vertical stroke” requires extensive practical exercises due to its unique nature. Ultrasonic and laser devices will also be widely employed. Educational and animal models will be utilized to detect biological factors like calculus or residual cement, site-specific instrumentation, modified subgingival debridement techniques, cause-related laser-assisted nonsurgical periodontal therapy, and new materials.
Shavonne R. Healy, MSDH, RDH Program Coordinator
Shavonne R. Healy, MSDH, RDH
Ms. Healy is a skilled public health advocate with over two decades of experience in clinical care as a dental assistant and dental hygienist. She earned her master’s in dental hygiene from the University of Bridgeport: Fones School of Dental Hygiene, the world’s first dental hygiene school, cementing her status as a true industry leader. She was recognized as a subject matter expert in the prevention and treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases when Dimensions of Dental Hygiene named her one of the Top Six Dental Hygienists you should know in the nation for her work as an Implant Care Practitioner working collaboratively with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Ms. Healy is a globally recognized expert in dental hygiene, dedicated to introducing innovative techniques and technologies to enhance dental care worldwide.
Her organization’s mission, A Higher Learning, LLC, is to foster innovative techniques and introduce the latest technologies in dental hygiene while prioritizing preventative measures. The organization is committed to providing a higher learning experience to oral health practitioners. A Higher Learning has conducted presentations and hands-on training workshops that have inspired clinicians, alums, and faculty worldwide. Under Ms. Healy’s leadership, A Higher Learning, LLC is dedicated to leading a dental hygiene revolution through advanced education and cutting-edge innovations and promoting preventive and non-invasive oral healthcare.
Marisa Roncati, RDH, DDS Main Presenter
Marisa Roncati, RDH, DDS
MDr. Roncati is a highly accomplished dental professional with a wealth of education, experience, and expertise. She received her bachelor’s degree in Art Science from Bologna University in 1981 and her certificate in Dental Hygiene from the Forsyth School in Boston, USA in 1984. In 2000, she earned her General Dentistry degree from the University of Ferrara in Italy.
Dr. Roncati has an impressive academic background and has served as an Assistant Professor at the Schools of Dental Hygiene at the Universities of Bologna, Ferrara, and Ancona in Italy. She has also been a valuable teaching resource at various Italian universities, including Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna University, La Sapienza, Rome University, and Parma University. She is responsible for teaching Master’s Degree programs on topics such as Implanto-Prosthesis with Advanced Technologies, Laser in Periodontics and Implantology, and Oral Surgery and Pathology.
In addition to her teaching, Dr. Roncati is an accomplished author with two English books named “Get sharp” and “Non-surgical periodontal therapy: indications, limits, and clinical protocols with the additional use of diode laser.” She has also authored a new Atlas text in Italian, supported by numerous videos, titled "Peri-implant Diseases: Non-Surgical Protocols," published by Quintessence International in 2019. Dr. Roncati has also been a speaker at various international conferences.
Dr. Roncati’s practice is focused on nonsurgical periodontics, which is a testament to her specialization in the field. Her commitment to education, research, and clinical excellence has made her a valuable asset to the dental community in Italy and beyond.
Jennifer A. Boyce, DMD
Dr. Boyce is a highly decorated dentist who has received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to dentistry. She earned her doctorate from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1990 and completed the general practice residency program at Danbury Hospital in 1991. She served as an attending dentist until 1997 before establishing her dental practice, which she ran for 25 years.
In 2015, Dr. Boyce began her academic career at Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport. She started as an adjunct faculty member and clinic dentist, then moved on to become the Dental Administrator in 2020, and finally the Associate Director of Clinical Affairs in 2021. In 2018, Dr. Boyce received her laser certification and was crucial in introducing laser education to Fones School of Dental Hygiene undergraduate students. She continues to provide critical continuing education for dental hygienists in private practice.
Dr. Boyce is a passionate advocate for the advancement of dentistry and the development of future dental professionals. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Connecticut Gold Star Award from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) in 2020 and the Teledentistry Innovation in Education Award in 2022. In addition, she has been featured in Marquis Who’s Who in America.
Suzanne Newkirk, RDH
Ms. Newkirk is a renowned key opinion leader in dental hygiene. She has co-authored several chapters in dental textbooks and published numerous articles on minimally invasive nonsurgical periodontal therapy using the dental endoscope. In 1981, she earned her dental hygiene degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Ms. Newkirk’s expertise in periodontal treatment makes her an invaluable asset to any organization or institution seeking to improve their clinical practice or academic research.
In addition to her work as a clinical dental hygienist, Ms. Newkirk is a distinguished member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and has extensive experience in national and state-level service.Her contribution to the Georgia Dental Hygienists’ Association (GDHA) is particularly noteworthy. From 2011 to 2020, she served as its Chair of Governmental Affairs and represented GDHA as President of their Association from 2016-2017. She worked tirelessly to advocate for GA dental hygienists. Ms. Newkirk’s efforts were crucial in passing general supervision legislation that allowed GA to become the 40th state to authorize direct access to dental hygiene services.
Ms. Newkirk has been an integral member of the ADHA Annual Conference House of Delegates meetings as a delegate. Her advocacy and teaching prowess are well-known, as evidenced by her presentations to nationwide study clubs and national meetings. She serves as a national and international periodontal endoscopy instructor.
