Occlusion – 3 Day Course (with live patients)

Occlusion underpins everything you do in restorative dentistry—yet it’s often the area that creates the most uncertainty when planning and delivering single and multiple-unit indirect restorations. This 3-day, >75% hands-on course is designed to give you a simplified, clinically relevant framework for assessing and managing occlusion—then put it into practice with practical workshops and live patient elements.

Led by Kushal Gadhia (former Consultant & Honorary Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry at Eastman Dental Hospital; Specialist in Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry), the programme blends fundamentals with real-world application so you can return to practice with greater confidence and more predictable restorative workflows.

What you’ll cover—and be ready to use in practice

• A structured approach to static and dynamic occlusal assessment (including function vs parafunction)
• The role of tripodism in dentate patients
• Identifying and managing guidances and interferences (including non-working side interferences)
• Practical strategies to avoid/minimise occlusal adjustment of restorations (crowns and direct restorations)
• Treatment sequencing for single-unit and multiple-unit indirect restorations, plus clearer communication with the laboratory
• TMJ considerations and assessment of the muscles of mastication

Centric relation, articulation and records—made practical

You’ll cover the concepts and the “how-to” of recording and transferring jaw position, including:

• Centric relation (CR) concepts, jaw position and clinical relevance
• CR recording techniques using leaf gauge and Lucia jig
• Articulators and their clinical applications
• Facebow principles and digital facebow concepts
• Digital articulation and integrating occlusion into digital workflows

Splints and occlusion management (including live patient sessions)

A major focus is understanding splints in everyday practice—what to choose, when, and how to deliver them safely:

• Splints: types, indications, limitations and uses
• A step-by-step workflow for the Michigan splint
• Hands-on fitting and adjusting Michigan splints on live patients

Digital dentistry and multidisciplinary integration

Occlusion doesn’t exist in isolation. The course explores how occlusion connects with modern workflows and other disciplines:

• Occlusion in digital dentistry, including fabricating digital splints
• The role of intraoral scanners in restorative dentistry
• Case discussions: applying occlusal fundamentals to multidisciplinary scenarios (including orthodontics/aligners, periodontics, endodontics, dentures and implants where applicable)

How the course is delivered

• 24 hours CPD across three intensive days
• Pre-course learning: approximately 7 hours of required theory videos (sent in advance)
• Includes lecture handouts/folders, plus refreshments and hot lunch
• Delivered at ACE’s training centre, OUR PLACE (Stanmore/London)
• All laboratory work used during the course is provided with support from Mr Hit Parmar (Fine Art Dental Studio)
• ACE provide unlimited advice and support for delegates beyond the course

If you want an occlusion course that prioritises hands-on clinical delivery, demystifies CR and splints, and helps you make occlusal decisions with confidence in restorative cases, this programme is built for you.