Dr. Mike Melkers & Dr. Lane Ochi

DATE: September 25, 2026
TIME: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Things We’ve Learned Along the Way — From Residency to Retirement

A Practical, Inspiring Journey Through Occlusion, Communication & Case Planning

With over 70 years of combined experience as clinicians and technicians, Drs. Lane Ochi and Michael Melkers bring you the lessons they wish they had learned earlier—openly sharing their successes, missteps, and the clinical pearls that have shaped their careers.

This is not another dry lecture on occlusion.

This is the program clinicians say should be the missing chapter between every other treatment-planning course.

Why This Course Matters—Especially Early in Your Career

Occlusion can feel intimidating, abstract, or unnecessarily complicated. Yet it quietly sits at the center of everything we do in restorative dentistry—diagnosis, treatment planning, predictability, longevity, and even your professional confidence.

In this engaging one-day interactive experience, Lane and Michael strip away the confusion and replace it with clarity, purpose, and real-world practicality. You won’t just learn what to do. You’ll finally understand why it works, how to apply it on Monday morning, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that lead to restoration failure—and dento-legal headaches.

Whether you’re fresh out of residency or establishing your clinical style, this course will help you grow from “fixing teeth” to confidently planning cases with intention, insight, and long-term success.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover the hidden reasons restorations fracture—and what you can do to keep both your dentistry and your reputation strong.
• Recognize how your own values influence patient trust and treatment acceptance—for better or worse.
• Understand purpose vs. process in treatment planning and how outcome-based thinking leads to better decisions.
• Learn how The Why clarifies The What and The How, making your case plans easier to present and easier for patients to embrace.
• How to efficiently and accurately communicate all of this to your technician—keeping the details clear and stress-free.

Biographies

Dr. Mike Melkers

Dr. Melkers is in private practice in Hanover, NH but impacts students, clinicians and patients worldwide.

Dr. Melkers is a 1994 graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry & currently serves as Visiting Faculty at Rīga Stradiņš University in Riga, Latvia & as Advisor and Visiting Faculty for The Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Dr. Melkers is a Fellow & Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and holds additional Fellowships in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American College of Dentists. He maintains a private clinical practice in Hanover, NH with a focus on comprehensive adult restorative care. Dr. Melkers balances his professional time between clinical practice, teaching, publishing and research.

Previously, he has been Director of Occlusion & Aesthetic Dentistry at the Pacific Northwest AEGD Residency Program and Visiting Faculty at The Spear Institute. He completed his tenure as Editor for the American Equilibration Society and received the 2018 AES President’s Distinguished Service Award for his service. He has been involved with the Academy of General Dentistry at a local, state and national level for his entire career.

Dr. Melkers’ current passion is serving as the Director for Educator Development for RIPEGlobal, as well as the Co-Director for their Fellowship in Restorative Dentistry. His mission is to help students, teams and clinicians realize what is possible and improve the level of patient care worldwide.

Dr. Lane Ochi

Lane M. Ochi D.D.S., F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D., graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 1981, where he received the Robert W. McNulty Memorial Award for the highest scholastic achievement.

He is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists and was honored with the McCollum Award from the International Academy of Gnathology. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and was the Co-Director of Occlusion at U.S.C. School of Dentistry.

Dr. Ochi is on the faculty of RIPE Global, the world’s leading cloud-based learning platform with simulation technology, and serves as a specialist consultant to the Graduate Prosthodontic Program at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Los Angeles. He has lectured to national and international audiences on aesthetic restorative dentistry and occlusion.

Dr. Ochi maintained a full-time private practice in Beverly Hills for over forty years with an emphasis on physiologic and aesthetic reconstructive dentistry. His patients include Academy Award winners, former Miss Americas, and some of the most recognized names in the entertainment industry.

Dr. Lane Ochi

DATE: September 26, 2026
TIME: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Removable Partial Dentures Evolution – A Valid and Versatile Prosthodontic Solution

These two presentations will advocate removable partial dentures (RPDs) as continued, contemporary and versatile prosthodontic options for restoring dental aesthetics and function. Specific discussion points for enhancing patient acceptance will include 1. the importance of effective and hygienic design for reducing risk of biologic complications, 2. the options for future proofing RPDs through forward looking design, and 3. the consideration of strategically placed single implant abutments for reducing functional shortcomings.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the evidence-based advantages of effective and hygienic RPD design.
• Explain the futureproofing, versatile scope of RPDs.
• Identify indications and considerations for strategic use of single implants a RPD overdenture abutments.

Biography

Lane M. Ochi D.D.S., F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D., graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 1981, where he received the Robert W. Mc Nulty Memorial Award for the highest scholastic achievement. He is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists and was honored with the McCollum award from the International Academy of Gnathology. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and was the Co-director of Occlusion at U.S.C. School of Dentistry. He is on the faculty of RIPE Global the world's best cloud-based learning platform with simulation technology and serves as a specialist consultant to the Graduate Prosthodontic Program at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Los Angeles. He has lectured to national and international audiences about aesthetic restorative dentistry and occlusion. Dr. Ochi maintained a full-time private practice in Beverly Hills for over forty years with an emphasis on physiologic and aesthetic reconstructive dentistry. His patients include Academy Award winners, former Miss America’s, and some of the most recognized names in the entertainment business.

Dr. Lane Ochi

DATE: September 26, 2026
TIME: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Removable Partial Dentures Evolution – A Valid and Versatile Prosthodontic Solution

These two presentations will advocate removable partial dentures (RPDs) as continued, contemporary and versatile prosthodontic options for restoring dental aesthetics and function. Specific discussion points for enhancing patient acceptance will include 1. the importance of effective and hygienic design for reducing risk of biologic complications, 2. the options for future proofing RPDs through forward looking design, and 3. the consideration of strategically placed single implant abutments for reducing functional shortcomings.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the evidence-based advantages of effective and hygienic RPD design.
• Explain the futureproofing, versatile scope of RPDs.
• Identify indications and considerations for strategic use of single implants a RPD overdenture abutments.

Biography

Charlotte Stilwell Dr Med Dent FDS RCSEd FCGDent MDTFEd DDS Charlotte Stilwell is a specialist prosthodontist with 30 years in private referral practice in Harley Street, London, UK. She trained at the Royal Dental College in Copenhagen, Denmark followed by five years post-graduate training and part-time lecturer post at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK and nine years in general practice in West Wickham, Kent, UK. Charlotte Stilwell has been a senior lecturer at University Clinic of Dentistry, Geneva, Switzerland for the past ten years and holds various roles as advisory board and exam board member and examiner in implant dentistry and prosthodontics as well as exam assessor for the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Charlotte is the immediate past president of the ITI International Team for Implantology. Charlotte lectures on provision of fixed and removable prosthodontics, conventional and implant assisted, as well as management of the occlusion.

Dr. Richard Price

DATE: September 26, 2026
TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Incremental Fill, Bulk Fill, Self-Cure or 3-D Printed Resins. Which One Do I Use and Where?

This course reviews the direct and indirect resin restoration options that you can use in your office. The course will explain exactly where, when, and why to use: incremental layering, bulk-fill, self/dual-cure, or 3-D printed workflows. We start with core principles: cavity design, C-factor, depth of cure, and how irradiance, exposure time, spectral output, and beam access influence conversion, shrinkage stress, and heat. For posterior Class I/II restorations, we shall contrast 3-D printed, bulk-fill and incremental techniques, define indications (e.g., validated 4–5 mm DoC limits and time efficiency), and specify when to transition to 2-mm oblique increments for deep, complex, or high C-factor preparations. We shall cover self- and dual-cure systems for situations with limited light access, such as deep margins, core build-ups, and fiber-post cementation, emphasizing adhesive compatibility and oxygen-inhibition control. Participants will leave with evidence-based protocols and chairside decision pathways.

Learning Objectives:

• The fundamental laws that govern resin polymerisation.
• What materials to use in various situations in the mouth.
• Where to go for more information.

Biography

Dr. Richard B. Price is a globally recognized prosthodontist, researcher, and educator who has shaped modern restorative dentistry through his pioneering work on light curing and resin-based composites. Ahe has been at Dalhousie University 1984, he completed specialty training at the University of Michigan and holds degrees from the University of London (BDS, 1979), Dalhousie (DDS, 1998), and a PhD in Oral Technology/Dental Materials from the University of Malmö, Sweden (2001). With more than 260 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Price is widely cited for advancing clinical light-curing protocols, optimizing material performance, and integrating artificial intelligence into dental education and research. He co-authored the light-curing chapter in the 8th edition of Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, and his educational YouTube channel, PriceCuringLab, has surpassed 270,000 views, translating evidence into accessible, practical guidance. His contributions have been recognized with major honors, including the WW Wood Award (2007), the Peyton Skinner Award from the IADR Dental Materials Group (2019), the Hollenback Memorial Prize (2023), and the Canadian Dental Association Honoured Member Award (2023). Dr. Price continues to lead cutting-edge research and mentor emerging scholars, and he co-developed askdentistry.ai, an AI-powered platform for real-time, evidence-based dental knowledge.

Dr. Mike Melkers

DATE: September 26, 2026
TIME: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

To Be Confirmed

Coming soon...

Learning Objectives:

• TBD
• TBD
• TBD

Biography

Dr. Melkers is in private practice in Hanover, NH but impacts students, clinicians and patients worldwide.

Dr. Melkers is a 1994 graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry & currently serves as Visiting Faculty at Rīga Stradiņš University in Riga, Latvia & as Advisor and Visiting Faculty for The Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Dr. Melkers is a Fellow & Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and holds additional Fellowships in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American College of Dentists. He maintains a private clinical practice in Hanover, NH with a focus on comprehensive adult restorative care. Dr. Melkers balances his professional time between clinical practice, teaching, publishing and research.

Previously, he has been Director of Occlusion & Aesthetic Dentistry at the Pacific Northwest AEGD Residency Program and Visiting Faculty at The Spear Institute. He completed his tenure as Editor for the American Equilibration Society and received the 2018 AES President’s Distinguished Service Award for his service. He has been involved with the Academy of General Dentistry at a local, state and national level for his entire career.

Dr. Melkers current passion is serving as the Director for Educator Development for RIPEGlobal, as well as the Co-Director for their Fellowship in Restorative dentistry. His mission is to help students, teams and clinicians realize what is possible and improve the level of patient care worldwide.

Dr. Taiseer Sulamiman

DATE: September 26, 2026
TIME: 2:30 PM – 3:50 PM

A Walk-through of Contemporary Literature in Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry has made significant strides in recent decades. Beginning with a simple and direct treatment plan consisting of rather invasive treatment procedures and a few material choices to complete treatment, a complex treatment plan with numerous restorative options emphasizing preservation of tooth structure and an endless supply of materials has evolved. Clinical evidence is becoming increasingly limited. Unless completed correctly, in vitro investigations yield minimal clinical relevance. It is vitally important to stay current with the latest advancements in diagnostic methods, efficient therapeutic planning, conservative restorative dental techniques, and materials.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine current research relevant to restorative dentistry.
• Evaluate clinically relevant literature recommendations and their implementation to clinical procedures.
• Evaluate evidence-based practice in common restorative procedures and materials.

Biography

Taiseer Sulaiman (TAY-see-er SU-la-men) is a Tenured Associate Professor and the Director of the Advanced Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials at the Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his clinical certificate in Operative Dentistry and his PhD in Dental Materials from the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences at the University of Turku in Finland in collaboration with the Department of Operative Dentistry at UNC. Dr. Sulaiman is a wet-handed clinician and a researcher who is passionate about bridging the gap between dental research and clinical application. Dr. Sulaiman’s research focus is on maximizing the clinical relevance of in vitro testing. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, and book chapters. He is a fellow of the International College of Dentists and a member of many academies, including the prestigious American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and the Academy of Operative Dentistry. He serves as the clinical and scientific ambassador for the Dental Advisor. He has presented on numerous national and international stages and serves as a reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Alero Boyo

DATE: September 27, 2026
TIME: 8:30 AM – 9:10 AM

Practical Oral Surgery Tips for the General Dentist

Oral surgery is an integral component of comprehensive dental care, yet even routine procedures can present unexpected challenges. This presentation will explore how to identify potentially difficult extractions, employ strategies to prevent and manage common surgical complications, and offer practical tips and techniques for smoother extractions and more effective local anesthesia.

Learning Objectives:

• Review clinical and radiographic factors that help identify challenging extractions and surgical cases.
• Discuss the recognition, prevention, and management of common oral surgery complications.
• Apply practical methods for achieving effective local anesthesia and performing smoother, more controlled extractions.
• Draft concise, informative referral letters that enhance communication and patient outcomes when specialist care is required.

Biography

Dr. Alero Boyo is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon practising in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She received her DDS in 2015 from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. This was followed by a general practice residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and a surgical internship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She continued her education and completed the 6-year residency program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Dalhousie University in 2023. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and a member of the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. Taiseer Sulamiman

DATE: September 27, 2026
TIME: 9:10 AM – 9:50 AM

Strategic Use of Single Implant Abutments for Removable Partial Overdentures

These two presentations will advocate removable partial dentures (RPDs) as continued, contemporary and versatile prosthodontic options for restoring dental aesthetics and function. Specific discussion points for enhancing patient acceptance will include 1. the importance of effective and hygienic design for reducing risk of biologic complications, 2. the options for future proofing RPDs through forward looking design and 3. the consideration of strategically placed single implant abutments for reducing functional shortcomings.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the evidence-based advantages of effective and hygienic RPD design.
• Explain the futureproofing, versatile scope of RPDs.
• Identify indications and considerations for strategic use of single implants a RPD overdenture abutments.

Biography

Charlotte Stilwell Dr Med Dent FDS RCSEd FCGDent MDTFEd DDS Charlotte Stilwell is a specialist prosthodontist with 30 years in private referral practice in Harley Street, London, UK. She trained at the Royal Dental College in Copenhagen, Denmark followed by five years post-graduate training and part-time lecturer post at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK and nine years in general practice in West Wickham, Kent, UK. Charlotte Stilwell has been a senior lecturer at University Clinic of Dentistry, Geneva, Switzerland for the past ten years and holds various roles as advisory board and exam board member and examiner in implant dentistry and prosthodontics as well as exam assessor for the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Charlotte is the immediate past president of the ITI International Team for Implantology. Charlotte lectures on provision of fixed and removable prosthodontics, conventional and implant assisted, as well as management of the occlusion.

Dr. Isabel Mello

DATE: September 27, 2026
TIME: 9:50 AM – 10:30 AM

To Be Confirmed

Coming soon...

Learning Objectives:

• TBD
• TBD
• TBD

Biography

Dr. Mello received her DDS degree from the Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil. She completed her residency and Master of Sciences in Endodontics at the University of Sao Paulo and later defended her PhD in Dental Sciences on a joint program between the University of Sao Paulo and the University of British Columbia.

She is the Division Head of Endodontics at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, and has received several teaching awards throughout her academic career. Dr. Mello has lectured nationally and internationally, is an active researcher, and has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals. She is a board-certified Endodontist and a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. She is also a reviewer for the Journal of Endodontics and other journals.

Dr. Mello serves as consulting staff in the Dentistry Department at the IWK Children’s Hospital in Nova Scotia and maintains a part-time practice in the region.

Dr. Brian Novy

DATE: September 27, 2026
TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

How to Stop a Coccus

The success of dentistry is highly dependent upon the physiology, microbiology, and chemistry of the human mouth, yet these factors are often overlooked in clinical settings. When clinicians are equipped with a newfound appreciation for modern cariology and appropriate therapeutic interventions, the prognosis of clinical dentistry can be dramatically improved. In a world that seems dedicated to disinfection and antibiotics, perhaps the oral environment will help illustrate that encouraging beneficial bacteria may be just as effective, if not more effective, than eradicating pathogenic bacteria.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the mixed bacteria ecological plaque hypothesis.
• Encourage the growth of commensal oral bacteria.
• Modify patient behavior with simple conversation changes.
• Improve the prognosis of restorative treatment.

Biography

Often described as “The tenth dentist,” Dr. Nový has faculty appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He served on the American Dental Association Council of Scientific Affairs from 2010-2014, and in 2016 was appointed the consumer representative to the United States Food & Drug Administration Dental Products Panel. His papers are published in various journals including the Journal of the American Dental Association, the Journal of Dental Research, the Journal of Evidence Based Dentistry, Dentistry Today, Inside Dentistry, Dental Economics, Compendium, the National Academies of Medicine, and the International Journal of Equity in Health, and the Journal of General Dentistry.