Bridge Preparation Course (1 day)

Bridges can be one of the most rewarding restorations you provide—when the design, occlusion, materials and lab workflow are all aligned. This one-day, in-person lecture course is built to help you make bridgework more predictable, from diagnosis through to delivery and long-term maintenance.

Led by Kushal Gadhia (former Consultant & Honorary Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Hospital; Clinical Director at Centre Of Dental Excellence and Royston Dental Care), the day focuses on the real-world decisions that most influence outcomes—especially where resin-bonded and modern material choices have changed what’s possible.

Course format

• 1-day, in-person teaching at ACE Courses’ training centre (OUR PLACE, Stanmore)
• Lecture-based (not hands-on) by design—so you can cover the full decision-making process, workflows and troubleshooting
• Case-led discussion, with the option to share cases in advance for discussion on the day

What you’ll cover

Core bridge principles

• Indications and treatment rationale
• Bridge design essentials: abutments, retainers, connectors and pontics
• Lab communication and writing effective prescriptions
• Consent, communication and longevity considerations
• Occlusion around bridges, including how to reduce complications such as de-bonding

Metal resin-bonded bridges (RBBs)

• Minimal preparation: how much is enough?
• Key design specifications (connectors/retainers/pontics)
• Layering vs non-layering considerations
• Bonding protocols and common causes of failure
• Managing complications and failures

Zirconia bonded bridges

• Zirconia RBB concepts and indications
• Material selection: 3Y / 4Y / 5Y zirconia—how to choose appropriately
• Bonding protocol for zirconia bridges
• Discussion of success/survival considerations compared with metal-based bridges

Pontic site development & provisional strategies

• Shaping emergence and supporting soft tissue aesthetics
• Provisional options (e.g., Essex retainers/dentures) to develop pontic sites
• Socket grafting considerations in extraction sites

Bridges in periodontal patients

• Splinting concepts and bridge solutions for mobile anterior teeth
• Direct (chairside) vs indirect (lab-based) approaches for maxilla and mandible

Fixed-moveable bridge concepts

• Indications and design approaches
• Materials and communication points that support predictable lab execution

Who this course is for

This course is ideal for dentists who want a clear, evidence-informed framework for bridge treatment planning and execution—whether you’re aiming to improve consistency with resin-bonded bridges, refine conventional design decisions, or strengthen your communication with the lab.

Why attend

• A focused, one-day deep dive into the topics that most affect bridge longevity
• Practical, clinic-first teaching on design, occlusion, bonding and workflow
• Opportunity to bring your own clinical scenarios for structured discussion

Note: This course is intentionally not a crown preparation hands-on course; it prioritises the broader design and clinical/lab workflow decisions that underpin predictable bridge outcomes.