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Scientific Session
 

Scientific Session

Schedule of Events

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Saturday
Sep
21
Afternoon Breakout Session
Morning Breakout Session

Check-In and Continental Breakfast

Start your day off with a continental breakfast and networking session before our formal programming begins. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere to mingle, catch up with colleagues, and fuel up for an exciting day ahead. We look forward to kicking off the day together with good food and great conversations! 

 

Dean Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, Keynote Address “Embracing Precision and Data Science in Dentistry”

Special keynote address by Dean Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, an internationally renowned periodontics specialist 

 

Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, Dean, UCSF School of Dentistry 

Dr. Reddy is dean of the UCSF School of Dentistry. A periodontist by training, he oversees an enterprise comprising more than 500 faculty members, a clinical operation that treats more than 48,000 patients annually, and one of the nation’s leaders in National Institutes of Health-funded research. Dr. Reddy’s vision for the school includes an innovative recasting of the predoctoral curriculum, expansion and improvement of clinical operations, growth along the research continuum, and a culture that supports all members of the school community. He earned his doctoral degrees from the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and is a dean emeritus of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. 

 

One CDE credit can be redeemed for attendance at this event. 

 

*Charting Success: Navigating the First Decade in Dentistry with Confidence and Innovation

Navigating the first decade in dentistry doesn't have to be daunting. Amidst exciting advancements and workforce shifts, having the right tools is essential for success. By learning from past challenges and adopting new technologies, we can foster growth and harmony in our practices. 

  

Cecie Mendoza 

Mendoza, a certified dental management consultant and owner of Now Dental Consulting, has more than 25 years of experience in the dental field. With a background in advertising and marketing, she is dedicated to helping dental practices achieve financial success while maintaining top-quality patient care. Recently, Mendoza has been focused on training teams to overcome the frustrations of insurance dependence and effectively retain the ideal patients. She provides coaching on innovative business solutions, system enhancements, and team development. Her mission is to inspire dental professionals to harness their resilience and thrive in both stable and changing environments. Mendoza will leave you with valuable insights that will guide you through the next decade of your career. 

  

Two CDE credits can be redeemed for attendance at this course.


*This session takes place at the same time as Dental Implants and Digital Workflows – Principles, Pitfalls, Potential. Only one course can be attended during this time frame.

Morning Breakout Session
 

*Dental Implants and Digital Workflows: Principles, Pitfalls, Potential

Potential risks with dental implant patients are recognized and minimized based on evidence and clinical experience. As the profession transitions toward digital workflows, technological advances with biological and prosthetic design implications may improve clinical logistics and patient care predictability, but our foundational knowledge remains a critical benchmark to measure success. Digital workflows supporting guided surgery, as well as prosthesis design and fabrication, can lead to well-planned surgical care, implant position, and definitive prostheses with the expected clinical result. This presentation will highlight clinical evidence, clinical data acquisition, and practical application that emphasizes diagnosis-driven decisions and care for the partially and completely edentulous. 

 

During this session, we will describe reported outcomes for dental implants and prosthetics, highlight fundamental clinical strategies for success with dental implants, and demonstrate how digital workflows with meaningful virtual planning can lead to clinical predictability. 


Kent L. Knoernschild, DMD, MS, FACP 

Dr. Knoernschild is the chair of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences in the UCSF School of Dentistry. A prosthodontist by training, his work focuses on diagnostically recognizing factors and establishing plans that will build patient success from biological and biomechanical perspectives. Prior to his tenure at UCSF, Dr. Knoernschild served as the Endowed Chair and Professor for the Department of Restorative Sciences at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University and as faculty member in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry. 


Two CDE credits can be redeemed for attendance at this course.


*This session takes place at the same time as Charting Success: Navigating the First Decade in Dentistry with Confidence and Innovation. Only one course can be attended during this time frame.

Morning Breakout Session
 

Lunch

Join us for an engaging lunch with esteemed alumni! Connect, share stories, and gain insights from accomplished graduates as we celebrate our shared journey and the future ahead. 

 

*Navigating Burnout: Recognize Symptoms, Prevention Strategies, and Personal Recovery

Are you exhausted? Do you feel like people are draining you? Do you go to work and doubt your abilities and skills? You may be suffering from a phenomenon called burnout. The session leader will discuss the symptoms of burnout as well as ways to prevent and alleviate it, and share details of her own journey from burnout to a life filled with hope and joy. 

Laurie Verceles-Bercasio, BS ‘91, MS ’19, RDH 
Bercasio is a full-time dental hygiene professor at Chabot College in Hayward, Calif. She is also a Dental Alumni Association board member and a UCSF dental hygiene pediatric fellow. She has worked for more than 30 years in private practice with her husband in Sunnyvale, Calif. Bercasio’s research on burnout began when she was a student in the Master in Science in Dental Hygiene program at UCSF and was later published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene. Recently, she published a chapter about local anesthesia in the 6th edition textbook, Darby and Walsh Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice. She received the School of Dentistry’s Elizabeth Fuhriman Gardner Award for demonstrating excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and compassion for others. Her goal is to educate students not only to be excellent dental hygienists but also to prioritize self-care and be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. 

Two CDE credits can be redeemed for attendance at this course.


*This session takes place at the same time as Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs. Only one course can be attended during this time frame.

Afternoon Breakout Session
 

*Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs

Substance Use Disorders (SUD), formally called substance abuse, is a newer term created in the context of the epidemic that has affected the US and has potentially contributed to a global pandemic of this disorder. New York state recently announced a drug emergency based on one drug, Fentanyl! The Drug Enforcement Agency and other allied and similar agencies have become super vigilant to SUD's, in an attempt to mitigate the catastrophic impact, it is predicted to have on US and world society.  This brief session will allow us to look at the basics of neurophysiology of SUD, tolerance, dependence, and addiction. We will also briefly review the main drugs associated with SUD and who is most vulnerable. 

Davis Thomas, BDS, DDS, MSD, MSc Med, MSc 
Dr. Thomas has had an extensive career in dentistry and pain management. He currently serves as the director of OFP/TMD/Sleep Medicine Courses for Roseman University and Smile USA Academy, and his faculty appointments at various national and international hospitals and universities underscore his commitment to advancing the field of dental medicine globally. His commitment to education extends into his role as an associate clinical professor, in which he has been for more than 14 years at the forefront of research in pain management at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York. A commissioned officer in the United States Army, Dr. Thomas is recognized internationally as a lecturer, sharing his insights and breakthroughs in pain management techniques with peers worldwide. He earned advanced degrees in fields such as orofacial pain, headache pain management, and sleep medicine from Rutgers University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Sydney.

Two CDE credits can be redeemed for attendance at this course.


*This session takes place at the same time as Navigating Burnout: Recognize Symptoms, Prevention Strategies, and Personal Recovery. Only one course can be attended during this time frame.

Afternoon Breakout Session
 

Alumni and Student Networking Reception and Poster Board Session

Don't miss this opportunity to not only network with fellow dental alumni, students, and faculty but also discover the cutting-edge research led by our current students. From groundbreaking discoveries to innovative solutions, explore how our scholars are shaping the future of oral health care.


One CDE credit will be awarded for attendance at this event.