- This event has passed.
Integrating Laser Frenectomies and the Function First Model™ into a Dental Practice
June 16, 2023 - June 17, 2023
Introduction
Join Dr. Piya Gandhi, a renowned pediatric dentist, at her exciting and multidisciplinary course that delves into the world of pediatric tongue-ties and laser dentistry. Gain a deeper understanding of tongue-ties and lip-ties, which can significantly impact breastfeeding in newborns. The course covers the significance of and diagnosis of tongueand lip-ties, and a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. You will learn about lactation support for breastfeeding infants with tongue-ties, alternative therapies, and how to integrate them successfully into your business.
This course will also cover practical aspects of soft tissue laser surgery and explore the fundamental processes involved in laser-tissue interaction. Discover the capabilities of surgical lasers in safely and efficiently cutting soft tissue while ensuring optimal coagulation and hemostasis. Our hands-on participation lab is designed to provide you with firsthand experience in working with surgical lasers. This lab will train you on the safe and effective use of surgical lasers and help you understand the depth of laser beam cuts and the extent of coagulation and hemostasis in surgical margins.
Instructors
- Piya Gandhi, DDS
- Alayna Pagnani-Gendron, DC
- Leah Whitley, IBCLC
- Catherine Kangas, RDH, Myofunctional Therapist
- Peter Vitruk, PhD, MInstP, CPhys
Regular Tuition Rates (USD)
Doctors: $1,250; Non-Doctors: $850; ALSC members: $50 off; and LightScalpel users: $50 off. Register now.
Clinical Curriculum
- Background and significance of Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS);
- Diagnosis of pediatric tongue- and lip-ties;
- Multi-disciplinary approach to treating pediatric tongue- and lip-ties;
- Lactation support for the breastfeeding tongue-tied dyad;
- Bodywork and alternative therapy for the tongue-tied baby;
- Setting expectations with families and patients;
- Implementing TOTS treatment into a business;
- Building and training an in house team;
- Billing and insurance setup and details;
- Current methods of clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric lingual and labial ties.
Attendees will be able to:
- Describe infant sucking physiology and how tongue-ties impair infant suck;
- Appropriately use reliable diagnostic criteria to screen babies and children for this condition;
- Clearly express orthodontic-myofunctional connection;
- Discuss how the soft tissues of the orofacial complex may lead to malocclusion, TMD, headaches, and other problems; and
- List and define all consequences and benefits of using lasers to remove oral restrictions.
Laser Curriculum
Laser Surgery and Safety Basic Knowledge Certification Curriculum for this Course has been developed by the American Laser Study Club (ALSC). The ALSC’s curriculum overcomes the known limitations of many laser dentistry courses and includes the detailed physics of soft tissue ablation and coagulation with laser and hot tip (non-laser) devices. Laser hands-on wet lab on tissue samples will include laser safety instructions, frenectomy simulations, and other surgical laser procedure demonstrations. Laser instructions will be assisted by the guest speaker Peter Vitruk, PhD, MInstP, CPhys, a laser physicist who founded the American Laser Study Club, and LightScalpel Inc.
Hands-On Participation Session
- Laser Safety
- Laser Surgical Technique Simulations
- Superficial Ablation
- Superficial Coagulation
- Shallow Incisions
- Deep Incisions
- Practicing Surgical Techniques on a Pig jaw
Course Certificates
Course participants, who successfully complete the examination, will be awarded a LASER SAFETY basic knowledge CERTIFICATE from the Board of Laser Safety of the Laser Institute of America (DISCOUNTED cost for the ALSC members), as well as a Laser Dentistry and Laser Surgery Basic Knowledge and Hands-On participation Wetlab CERTIFICATE from the American Laser Study Club (FREE for the course participants).
About the ALSC
American Laser Study Club was founded to promote science-based laser dentistry, surgery, and safety education. The ALSC is proud of its curriculum and its distinguished membership, including our honorary members Gordon J. Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD, and Rella P. Christensen, RDH, PhD, world-renowned leaders in dental product research and education, who welcomed the ALSC’s mission: “Peter, we congratulate you on starting a laser study club. It is greatly needed, and you are the man to do it.” Other Honorary Members of the ALSC are Charles M. Cobb, DDS, MS, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City; and C. Kumar N. Patel, PhD, MS, the Inventor of the CO2 Laser; Recipient of National Medal of Science (1996); Member of US National Inventors Hall of Fame 2012; Professor Emeritus, UCLA. The ALSC is proud to have helped many dentists and surgeons.