Dr. Gerard Kugel has been recognized as a mentor and leader in Dentistry continuing education. Dr Kugel’s continuing education courses and syllabus are listed below. See the course schedules for availability in your area.

Course Descriptions for Gerard Kugel DMD, MS, PhD

Esthetic Dentistry: Materials & Techniques

(Half-Day or Full-Day Course)

As dentists, we rely not only on the materials but on our own abilities to effectively plan treatment and to diagnose based on multi-factorial situations. We must be careful in our preparation, design, and be meticulous in our bonding techniques. Failures in dentistry are frequently blamed on the materials when, in reality, user error is often the culprit.

In this half-day seminar, Dr. Kugel will highlight the latest information and evidence on a wide variety of topics in esthetic dentistry and clinical procedures. Aimed at dentists and their staff, this course will provide relevant clinical information to assist dentists in their everyday practice.

Participants will learn:

  • A comprehensive review of core principles of esthetic dentistry related to tooth form and function – tooth position, occlusal function and, most importantly, what you need to know to stay out of trouble
  • Why esthetics is secondary to proper function
  • All-ceramic options for indirect anterior and posterior restorations: What to do and when to use them
  • Digital impression making and chairside CAD/CAM, has its time finally come?
  • Advances in adhesive dentistry: are the new generations all they are claim to be?
  • Esthetic case maintenance

You will get practical and cost effective information that you can use immediately in your practice.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Dentist will learn the limitations of materials as well as the best options for different clinical situations.
  2. Dentist will learn the importance of understanding occlusion as it relates to their choice of materials.
  3. Dentist will learn the evidence as it related to new bonding systems.

The Do’s And Don’ts of Porcelain Laminate Veneers

(Half-Day Lecture &/or Half-Day Hands-On)

This course will review the Do’s and, more importantly, the Don’ts of porcelain veneers.

  • Treatment planning and case selection for veneers, along with preparation tips, is reviewed
  • Clinical cases are used to demonstrate these topics
  • Preparation and cementation pitfalls: what not to do
  • The most common problems associated with porcelain veneer cases and ways of avoiding these mistakes
  • A step-by-step review of preparation, temporization and cementation processes will be covered in the hands-on program
  • Chairside CAD/CAM veneers
  • A veneer preparation reduction guide will be demonstrated along with silicone temporary shells
  • Long-term maintenance

This course is designed to help dentists incorporate veneers into their everyday practice.

All Ceramic, CAD/CAM Dentistry & Long Term Maintenance

(Half-Day Lecture &/or Half-Day Hands-On)

The choice of materials available for fixed prosthetics has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. Porcelain to metal, along with gold, are still the benchmarks by which we judge all other materials. However, our patients are pushing the esthetic envelope. We must be aware of what our options are and, more importantly, the indications and contraindications for their use.

This lecture will also review all-ceramic materials, including both lab processed and chairside CAD/CAM crowns, digital impressioning and cement options.

  1. What materials work best and in which circumstances?
  2. The pros & cons of digital dentistry will be discussed
  3. Materials & techniques for long-term maintenance of esthetic restorations will be reviewed

An emphasis will be placed on clinical applications including indications, and preparation design. Clinical data will be reviewed.

The Art & Science of Tooth Whitening

(Half-Day Program)

Tooth whitening has become easy, rewarding and profitable. New systems are being brought to market at a dizzying pace. Should I do a chairside or take-home bleaching? Do the over-the-counter whitening products work and how do I incorporate them into my clinical practice? What about a combination of chairside and take-home? Are they worth it?

In this course we will review the different systems on the market as well as those on the horizon. The pros and cons of bleaching will be covered, as well as the use of different light sources to speed up the whitening process. Issues of sensitivity, mechanism of action and longevity will be discussed.

Material in this lecture will rely on scientific evidence from the literature as well from our own clinical experiences.

Occlusion, All Ceramic, & CAD/CAM Dentistry: State of the Art

(Half-Day Program)

The choice of materials we can use for our fixed prosthetics has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. Porcelain to metal, along with gold, are still the benchmarks by which we judge all other materials. However, our patients are pushing the esthetic envelope. We must be aware of what our options are and, more importantly, the indications and contraindications for their use. We will review the core principles of esthetic dentistry as they relate to tooth form and function. Methods for obtaining correct bite registrations, perio-esthetics, anterior guidance, and equilibration will also be reviewed. Finally, this lecture will review all-ceramic materials, including lab processed and chairside CAD/CAM crowns, digital impressioning and cement options.

  • What materials work best and in which circumstances?
  • The importance of understanding occlusion with all ceramic dentistry
  • The pros & cons of digital dentistry will be discussed
  • Long term maintenance of your esthetic cases

An emphasis will be placed on clinical applications, including indications and preparation design. Clinical data will be reviewed.

Adhesive Dentistry and Direct Restoratives: Is Newer Always Better?

(Half-Day Lecture or Full-Day Lecture & Hands-On)

This lecture reviews new materials and techniques in an effort to improve our treatment outcomes. As new generations of bonding agents and restoratives are being introduced the question is: are they better than the older products? What are the limitations of the self etch bonding agents? We will discuss these new materials and how they can help us produce better more long lasting bioactive and protective restorations as well as improve our bonding results

Topics Covered:

  • Advantages & disadvantages of the different generations of bonding
  • Self etch and enamel bonds
  • Avoiding post operative sensitivity
  • 6th and 7th Generation bonding: are they really better?
  • Bioactive direct restoratives & liners, 3 Step anterior and 2 step posterior composite layering
  • Long-term maintenance

Learning Objectives:

  1. Learning to improve bonding techniques
  2. Learning to improve composite esthetics
  3. Review of recent bonding data

Sharpening Your Cementation Skills

(Two-Hour Lecture)

In this presentation Dr. Gerard Kugel will review the decision making criteria in selecting luting agents based on restorative materials and preparation designs. Current materials and techniques for cementation of contemporary all-ceramic restorations will be reviewed. Additionally, clinical conditions that lead to success and failures of the restorations will be outlined.

Educational Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to achieve the following:

  • The fundamentals of cementation and expected essential functions
  • Basic requirements for all-ceramic cement selection
  • Long-term maintenance
  • Clinical tips for ultimate success with various restorative materials, such as zirconia and lithium disilicate

Adhesive Dentistry & Cementation: Is Newer Always Better?

The variety of bonding agents and cements on the market is extensive. This lecture reviews new materials and techniques in an effort to improve our treatment outcomes. This course discusses the decision making criteria in selecting luting agents based on restorative materials and preparation designs.  Current materials and techniques for cementation of contemporary all-ceramic restorations will be reviewed.  Additionally, clinical conditions that lead to successes and failures of the restorations will be outlined.

Topics Covered:

  • Advantages & disadvantages of the different generations of bonding
  • Self etch and enamel bonds
  • Avoiding post operative sensitivity
  • Research data
  • 6th and 7th Generation bonding: are they really better?
  • Self adhesive cements
  • Ceramic preparation
  • Long-term maintenance

Learning Objectives:

  1. Learning to improve bonding techniques
  2. Learning to avoid post-op problems
  3. Review of recent bonding data
  4. Understanding of basic requirements for all-ceramic cement selection

Adhesive Dentistry and Bioactive Materials: Is Newer Always Better?

There is a plethora of bonding agents and cements on the market. This lecture reviews new materials and techniques in an effort to improve our treatment outcomes from prevention to restoration highlighting the new class of bioactive/biomimetic materials. We will review techniques and tools to enhance the long-term maintenance of your patient’s dentition and helping prevent the need or future restoration. Questions are arising as to the longevity and appropriateness of our current resin material systems and the new generation of bonding agents. Researchers have begun to develop advanced acid-base restorative alternatives to help with the limitations we see with our restorative and luting needs. We will discuss these new materials and how they can help us produce better more long lasting bioactive and protective restorations as well as improve our bonding results.

Topics covered:

  • Advantages & disadvantages of the different generations of bonding
  • Self etch and enamel bonds
  • Avoiding Post operative sensitivity
  • Research data
  • 6th and 7th Generation bonding, are they really better
  • Understand why resin bonded restorations and bonding systems are being questioned.
  • Learn what bioactive materials are, how they work.

Learning Objectives:

  1.  Learning to improve bonding techniques
  2. Learning to avoid post-op problems
  3. Review recent bonding data
  4. Learn what bioactive materials are

Bioactive Dentistry – Prevention to Restoration

Dr. Gerard Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD
Connie Lorich Kugel, RDH, BS

This course will cover everything from prevention to restoration, highlighting the new class of bioactive/biomimetic materials. We will review techniques and tools to enhance the long-term maintenance of your patient’s dentition and to help prevent the need for future restoration. Questions are arising as to the longevity and appropriateness of our current resin material systems and the new generation of bonding agents. Researchers have begun to develop advanced acid-base restorative alternatives to help with the limitations we see with our restorative and luting needs. We will discuss these new materials and how they can help us produce better, more long-lasting bioactive and protective restorations, as well as improve our bonding results.

    • Learn what bioactive materials are and how they work
    • Discover how bioactive preventive materials can replace traditional preventive materials
    • Understand how to incorporate bioactive preventive materials into practice
    • Review effective aftercare tools and techniques to enhance long-term maintenance
    • Understand why resin bonded restorations and bonding systems are being questioned
    • Are the newer bonding agents and cements better?

Be introduced to direct restorative techniques using bioactive materials that will easily enhance your practice and benefit your patients.

Real World Occlusion: It’s Not Just the Teeth

(Full Day Program)

A dentist’s guide to function, esthetics and stability of the Maxillomandibular and Craniofacial Complex

HANDS-ON COURSE – CLASS SIZE LIMITED

Faculty:

Noshir R. Mehta, D.M.D., M.D.S., M.S. Associate Dean of International Relations, Professor and Chairman General Dentistry, Director Craniofacial Pain Center Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Gerard Kugel, D.M.D., M.S., Ph.D. Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; Editor of Inside Dentistry

In most dental occlusal concepts the primary difference is one of condylar versus muscular positions. This is consistent with the textbook images of saggital condylar positions or the diamond shapes of the lateral excursive movements according to Posselt. However, these concepts do not take into account the three dimensional structures of the craniofacial skeleton due to the relative difficulty of many dentists in visualizing how the muscles, TM Joints and the teeth all function in harmony. Risk indicators of occlusal disharmony include parafunction , trauma, posture, sleep architrecture , psychological and neurologic inputs to the neuromuscular pathways. Finally, management of patient with Temporomandibular and Cranio- Cervical dysfunctions often require the use of intra-oral appliance therapy. Studies however have reported variable results.

Historical perspective suggests that different appliances and different mandibular positions be needed for different types of disorders and that the “one for all” appliance may not be an effective strategy to pursue.

The course will cover:

      • Review of the evidence on occlusal concepts currently in vogue
        • CR, CO and neuromuscular occlusion as it relates to the three dimensional concepts of biologic function, when and how to choose
        • Biologic principles of dental occlusion
      • Role of parafunction and sleep disorders on the longevity of dental stability
      • Risk indicators of TMD that “call out to you” from your patient’s mouth before beginning any dental treatment
      • How and why dental changes can affect the head and neck stability of an individual
      • Merging esthetics and function for long-term stability and health
      • How, when and why to use occlusal splints in the development of a stable occlusion regardless of whether the patient has TMD

Hands-on component will cover:

      • A step-by-step guide to three dimensional examination of the occlusion
      • Hands-on record taking for transfer from the mouth to the articulator that accurately records the position you have chosen
      • Splint fabrication

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