Certificate in Restorative Dentistry

Certificate in Restorative Dentistry

(Level 7 Certificate & Non-Level 7 Options Available)

A 1-year comprehensive course providing dentists with a deep understanding of Occlusion and Restorative Dentistry, essential for long-term career success. The course focuses on three main aspects: the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and communication/business skills.

These components are crucial for delivering high-quality dental care and achieving clinical success throughout your dental career.

The Restorative Dentistry course consists of 15 modules spread over 12-months, delivered via blended learning. There are 11 face-to-face days featuring seminar sessions and afternoon practicals, and 4 online zoom sessions.

It covers several topics which are fundamental to dentists’ success. It begins with a major focus on Occlusion, covering its principles and practical applications. Professor Paul Tipton, our Founder & Clinical Lead, believes Occlusion to be the most important topic in dentistry and is therefore covered on multiple days throughout the course.

The course also focuses on topics including Articulators, TMD Splints, Tooth Preparations, Treatment Planning, Adhesion Composites, Porcelain Veneers and more. 

Each topic is approached from an Occlusal perspective to ensure comprehensive understanding and effective practice. Scroll down to view the full list of modules covered.

Under the expert mentorship of our tutors, including Professor Tipton, you’ll gain a transformative boost in confidence as you refine your restorative dentistry techniques and master the complexities of occlusion, all supported by the latest scientific advancements.

You’ll gain the skills to elevate your clinical practice, expand your treatment options, and deliver superior patient care with better outcomes, ultimately enhancing your job satisfaction as you grow into a more skilled and confident practitioner.

Course Topic

The below provides a brief overview of the 15 modules covered throughout the Restorative course.

Modules are delivered in the form of seminars, practical sessions, demonstrations and online zooms. 11 days are face-to-face and 4 are online.

Module 1: Principles of Occlusion

AM, Lecture:

• 5 Principles of Occlusion

• Slides between RCP and ICP

• Gnathology and Pankey style Occlusions

• Importance of Condylar Position

• Bruxism

• Anterior Guidance, Canine Guidance and Incisal Guidance

• Mutually protected occlusion

• The importance of none working side interferences

PM, Practical:

• Jaw registrations on each other

• Facebow registration practical on each other

• De-programming techniques

Module 2: Occlusal Examinations

AM, Lecture:

• How to examine the TMJs

• Muscle palpation

• Importance of RCP contact when crowning

• Classification of lateral movement

• How the slide determines the treatment plan

• Conformative v Reorganised approach

• 4 factors that identify your Occlusal plan

• Canine disclusion and cusp angles

PM, Practical:

• Occlusal Examination practical on each other

Module 3: Endodontics

AM, Lecture:

• Basic principles of modern endodontic treatment

• Diagnosis and treatment planning, access cavities, canal location, shaping, cleaning and obturation.

• Restoration of endodontically treated teeth.

• Case presentation.

PM, Practical:

• Hands on using reciprocating files.

Module 4: PFM / Zirconia / Emax Preparations

AM, Seminar:

• Two handed preparations

• Understanding bur selection

• Tooth anatomy v Tooth Prep

• Use of speed increasing handsets

• Lab techniques

• Functional cusp bevels

• Shillingburg winged preps

• Convergence angle and axial inclination

• The advantages and disadvantages of digital scanning in Restorative dentistry

PM, Practical:

• Tooth Prep practical preparing upper and lower teeth for zirconia and emax crowns

Module 5: Posts

Online Lecture & Tutorial:

• Importance of the ferrule

• Creating the ideal ferrule

• Parallel vs Tapered posts

• Nayyar cores

• Shenker Post prep techniques

• Adhesive Fibre/Zirconia Posts prep techniques

• Occlusion on post retained crowns

• When to use a post and when not

Online Zoom Q&A

Module 6: Articulators

AM, Seminar:

• Choosing the right articulator to use

• Average value articulator

• The importance of articulators

• Semi adjustable & Fully adjustable articulators

• Importance of Condylar inclination

• Bennett movement v immediate side shift

• Bennett angle v progressive side shift

• Digital v analogue articulators

• Why are your restorations always high

PM, Practical:

• Mounting your own Models on the semi adjustable Articulator

Module 7: Aesthetics

Online Lecture & Tutorial:

• Understanding how to design a smile

• Media v natural smiles

• Golden proportion/ Golden percentage

• Incisal length and profiles

• Centre line options

• Maxillary teeth – tooth proportions and central incisor dominance

• Buccal corridors and axial alignment

• Mandibular teeth

Online Zoom Q&A

Module 8: Porcelain Veneers

AM, Seminar:

• Theory of porcelain veneer preparations

• Treating Diastemas

• Interproximal preparation types – conventional vs slice

• Different options for crossing the Incisal Edge

• Finishing techniques

• Prep vs prepless techniques

• Success Rates

• Conventional vs slice preps

• Butt Joints vs Sloping Butt Joints vs Mini Chamfers

• Finishing preparations and which burrs to use

PM, Practical:

• Preparing upper central incisors for veneers

Module 9: TMJ / Splints

AM, Seminar:

• Understanding what causes TMD

• Different types of treatment

• Doing therapies v splints

• Types of splints

• How to adjust splints

• Success rates / costs

• Tanner Appliances

• Anterior Repositioning splints

• Anterior splints and deprogrammers

• Avoiding a Closed Lock

• Classification of clicking

PM, Practical:

• Splint adjustment practical on each other

• The use of T Scan in adjusting & fitting splints

Module 10: Adhesion Composites

AM, Lecture:

• Contraction (C) factor

• Treatment of pulpal exposures

• Placement and shrinkage, flowable and chemically cured composites

• Surface layer considerations

• Staining techniques

• Classification of Dentine bonding agents and appropriate use

• Bonding to different types of dentine

• Tooth Anatomy

PM, Practical:

• Canine rise class 3 composite practical

Module 11: Removable Prosthodontics

Online Lecture & Tutorial:

• How to take good impressions

• Jaw registrations

• BPS Denture techniques

• Practical Denture Design

• Fixed Denture protocols

• Stable Base Dentures

Online Zoom Q&A

Module 12: Periodontics

AM, Lecture:

• Etiology and prevalence of periodontal diseases

• Screening and diagnosis of periodontal diseases and conditions, including the new classification system

• Guidelines for periodontal treatment, including step 1, step 2, step 3 and step 4

• Introduction to periodontal surgery

• Diagnosis of peri-implant diseases and conditions

PM, Practical:

• Introduction to periodontal surgery

• Distal wedge

• OFP

• Pocket reduction surgery

• Periodontal regeneration

Module 13: Bridge Design

Online Lecture & Tutorial: 

• Choosing fixed/fixed v fixed moveable design

• Cantilever designs

• Adhesive bridge preps

• Choosing the retainer type

• Perils of double abutting

• Reasons for bridge failures

• Flexing v length of bridge

• Lindhe and Nyman bridges/Periodontal Prosthesis

• The use of stress breakers

Online Zoom Q&A

Module 14: Treatment Planning

AM, Lecture:

• Treatment Planning the large restorative case, sequencing treatment

• Dahl appliances, diagnostic waxing and the curve of spee

• Boyle's plane analyser, importance of the Occlusal plane

• Vertical dimension and facial aesthetics, golden proportion

• Pink porcelain, emergence profile and soft tissue position

• Introduction to Modjaw and T Scan and its role in Treatment Planning

• Custom made Anterior guidance tables

PM, Practical:

• Treatment planning on articulators

• Diagnostic waxing

• Occlusal adjustment on models to give final occlusal scheme

• Deciding to reorganise or work conformatively

Module 15: Advanced Occlusion

AM, Seminar:

• Load testing the joint

• Choosing your condylar position

• Types of canine guidance

• Occlusal adjustment

• Progressive guidance, programmed guidance

• Long and wide centric, freedom in centric

• Treatment of Class 2 patients

PM, Practical:

• Lucia jigs practical on each other

• The use and introduction of Modjaw and T Scan in Restorative Dentistry

• Jaw registrations

• De-programming

• Splint adjustments

Enhanced CPD

The Restorative course has 5 units covered over 15 days, spread over 12-months.

You will be awarded 66 hours of Enhanced CPD as a result of realising each Learning Outcome below.

Unit 1: Principles of Occlusion

• Learning Outcome 1: Comprehensively evaluate and demonstrate the understanding of basic, intermediate and advanced principles of occlusion.

• Learning Outcome 2: Evaluate, select and apply appropriate occlusion techniques for manipulation of the jaw, identification of slides, managing and controlling occlusion for a reorganised bite.

• Learning Outcome 3: Evaluate and apply appropriate techniques relating to TMJ and Splints, which splint to use when and where, management of the patient, maintenance and review.

Unit 2: Principles of Tooth Preparation

• Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the main factors to be considered for use in Tooth Preparation, bur selection and dimension, preparation techniques and the science behind them, Shillingburg Preps and Magne.

• Learning Outcome 2: Critically appraise current techniques and accompanying material considerations involved with the application of porcelain veneers.

• Learning Outcome 3: Evaluate and demonstrate the techniques for the use of posts. Which Posts design, material, ferrule and managing the root filled tooth.

• Learning Outcome 4: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of adhesion composites and their application to patients.

Unit 3: Tooth Replacement for Missing Teeth

• Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate an understanding of Bridge Preparation Techniques and Adhesive Requirements.

• Learning Outcome 2: Analyse and Apply the Essential Techniques for Implants.

Unit 4: Treatment Planning and the Use of Articulators

• Learning Outcome 1: Evaluate the Treatment Planning Considerations to be made for Patients.

• Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate understanding of the principles of articulators, types of articulators and the science behind choice of use.

Unit 5: Endodontics and Periodontics

• Learning Outcome 1: Evaluate the Endodontic restorative management of teeth.

• Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of periodontology.

Choose Between Level 7 & Non-Level 7:

Level 7 Certificate:

To obtain a Level 7 Qualification, participants must complete various assessments, including Direct Observation of Performance (DOPS), reflective write-ups, clinical portfolios, treatment planning assignments, and multiple-choice questions.

Upon completion of the course and the assessments involved, you will receive a Level 7 Certificate in Restorative Dentistry, accredited by EduQual & The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Centre accreditation from RCSEng is an award of excellence, and we take immense pride in our courses being the first & only private training courses to gain this accreditation.