The Occlusal Guard Blueprint: Appliance Function Through Design & Function
Friday, January 29, 2027
8:00 – 11:00 am
Course Code:
500RH
Cost:
$389
Credits:
3
CE Hours
Successful occlusal appliance therapy begins long before delivery. Selecting the appropriate appliance design requires an understanding of diagnosis, treatment goals, occlusal considerations, and the functional mechanics of each guard design. In this course, attendees will learn a practical clinical decision tree for selecting the most appropriate occlusal guard based on patient presentation and therapeutic objectives. Once a design is selected, attendees will fabricate an occlusal guard to reinforce key concepts in appliance design, function, and occlusal management.
While attendees will gain experience fabricating an appliance, the primary goal of this course is to deepen one’s understanding of how occlusal guards should function and why specific design features matter. By constructing and evaluating an appliance firsthand, clinicians will develop greater confidence in prescribing, adjusting, and communicating their desired appliance design to laboratory partners. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for selecting and designing occlusal guards that deliver more predictable clinical outcomes.
Attendance at the Thursday lecture, course code XXXXX is strongly recommended.
Speakers
In this course attendees will:
- Utilize a clinical decision tree to select the most appropriate occlusal guard design based on patient diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment objectives
- Compare common occlusal appliance designs and identify the indications, contraindications, advantages, and limitations of each
- Describe the design features that influence therapeutic effectiveness
- Fabricate and evaluate an occlusal guard prototype to better understand appliance mechanics, functional design principles, and effective communication with laboratory partners
Thanks to Great Lakes Dental Technology for course materials.
The Massachusetts Dental Society is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at
ADA.org/CERP