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• 2026 PEAK Track II March Meeting

  • Start
    March 13, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • End
    March 15, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square

  Register

  PAGD's Spring Meeting will be at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15.
  

  Friday, March 13

  PEAK Presentations from your Colleagues

  Hear your colleagues present real-world examples of how they implemented lessons learned on orthodontics and full arch from the September 2025 meeting. Nothing to present? Come anyway, the best lessons are often learned from your colleagues.

  
  AGD Subject Code - 130 Electives
  7.0 Credit Hours Available

  Evening Social Event - Local Reception

  
  Saturday, March 14
  

  Factors Determining Long-Term Successful Outcome of Ceramic Restorations in Patients with Full-Mouth Reconstructions with Dr. Mariam Margvelashvili-Malament

  The progressive shift towards minimally invasive dentistry is obvious. The ultimate goal is to preserve as much of the tooth structure as possible and extend pulpal vitality. At the same time patients have extended life expectancy and increased number of retained teeth at older age. This results in patients that have a combination of diseases like caries and/or recurrent caries, defective restorations, generalized wear, loss of Occlusal Vertical Dimension (OVD) and esthetic concerns. These require thorough diagnosis and treatment that involves restoration of lost tooth structure, reestablishment of OVD and occlusal schemes, and correction of esthetic appearance. Can the goal be achieved with minimal intervention treatment options and ceramic materials?

  The presentation will cover diagnosis and treatment planning for complex full-mouth reconstruction patients, material and restoration choices. The lecture will also show the results of clinical studies evaluating long-term survival of complete and partial coverage (inlay and onlay) max restorations. The factors determining the long-term successful outcome of ceramic restorations will be outlined and the role of occlusion will also be discussed. Finally, decision making between keeping teeth or replacing them with implants will be reviewed. The lecture will also go over potential complications associated with implant restorations and how to avoid them.  

  Objectives

  • To discuss treatment planning and diagnosis steps for complex cases.
  • To go over material and treatment choices for complex cases.
  • To review factors determining long-term successful outcomes for ceramic restorations.
  • To outline minimally invasive treatment approaches for full-mouth reconstruction patients.
  • To compare options of tooth restoration vs replacement with implants.

  
  

  AGD Subject Code - 250 Operative (Restorative) Dentistry
  7.0 Credit Hours Available

  
  

  Sunday, March 15

  Factors Determining Long-Term Successful Outcome of Ceramic Restorations in Patients with Full-Mouth Reconstructions, continued with Dr. Mariam Margvelashvili-Malament

  This will be a hands-on continuation of the Saturday didactic course. Ceramic restorative techniques will be demonstrated, and cementation kits will be distributed for replication. PAGD thanks Ivoclar for their support of this hands-on course. 

  AGD Subject Code - 250 Operative (Restorative) Dentistry
  4.0 Credit Hours Available

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• 2026 PEAK Track I Spring Meeting

  • Start
    April 23, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • End
    April 26, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Normandy Farm

  Register

  The 2026 PEAK I Spring Meeting will be at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell from April 23-26. This will be the final PEAK I meeting. Please join this group for its final run of learning and developing better dentistry.

  Thursday

  

  PEAK Presentation from your Colleagues

  Join your PAGD colleagues over dinner as they present cases demonstrating their learning from previous meetings.

  
  

  Friday

  Everything You Need To Know About Creating Undetectable Restorations in Composite with Dr. Joyce Bassett 

  This course is meticulously crafted to update you on the latest technologies, review current concepts and train your eye to see nuances followed by enhanced hand skills. Techniques to create morphologically precise direct anterior and posterior composite restorations will be discussed and demonstrated. You will develop artistic capabilities by training your eyes to see the different dimensions of color, when evaluating an anterior tooth. You will then learn which opacities and thickness to use in each area to be reconstructed and make a fracture line disappear. Learn when and how to use pink composite to mimic gingiva.

  Step by step finishing and polishing technique will be shown that predictably will mimic the contralateral tooth’s facial anatomy and reflective surfaces. You will restore both a class IV and build a direct composite veneer and create a morphologically precise undetectable restoration.

  This class will utilize an easy, fast and practical placement technique with a bulk fill posterior composite. This procedure is based on proven adhesives, advanced composite materials and new technologies. The cases presented have been published in national peer reviewed journals. There is something for everyone to learn in this presentation.

  Bring your loupes for magnification.

  Learning Objectives:

  • Train your eyes to see color, line angles, reflective surface, shape, and form in the adjacent tooth that is being replicated
  • Learn how to achieve a predictable composite restoration following the stratification of opacities and achieve undetectable restorations
  • Learn how to layer the different opacities of composite, opaquing, tinting, finishing and surface texture to create natural light reflection and make a fracture line disappear
  • Review current composite materials, bonding systems, c factors, and techniques necessary to achieve predictable outcomes, while minimizing post operatory sensitivity
  • Master the techniques of posterior composite placement with bulk fill technology and matching techniques

  Complex Aesthetic Case: When and How to Open the Vertical by Dr. Joyce Bassett

  Failures in dentistry are frequently blamed on materials, but many times we, the dentists, are the culprit. We treat the anterior teeth as cosmetic challenges, and we forget to look at the relationship of form and function. This presentation will simplify occlusion by combining dental facial treatment planning in combination with function. By applying a few basic principles, we can design the proper amount of restorative space for our restorations. This innovative, fast-paced course will explore aesthetics that are BUILT TO LAST.

  Learning Objectives:
  

  • Learn how to diagnose and treatment plan an aesthetic case
  • Evaluate the patient's incisor position and morphology, their dento-facial requirements, determine the appropriate vertical dimension and create synergy between form and function
  • Understand distinctive steps to simplify restorative preparations and identify which adhesives and restorative materials work the best for maximum predictability

  AGD Course Code - 780 Esthetic/Cosmetic Dentistry

  7.5 Credit Hours Available

  Friday Evening - Host Home

  Saturday

  Dental Financial Planning: Turning Chaos Into Financial Freedom by Wes Read and Randy Lundy, PracticeCFO

  While dentistry is one of the most lucrative career paths, many dentists struggle to build financial security and meet their life goals.

  Dentists receive the training and knowledge to provide quality care for their patients, yet they are not usually equally trained in managing the financial aspects of the dental practice. Many dentists approach retirement age with little to show for decades of hard work. By following a dental-specific game plan, dentists can grow and retain more of their dental practice profits to accelerate their financial independence.

  This course shares how dentists can work smarter, organize their business and personal finances, and build the life they desire. We will learn a step-by-step process that simplifies the path to financial freedom. From funding their future, eliminating debt, reducing taxes, and planning for retirement, attendees will explore a comprehensive strategy for navigating their financial future. They will discover how to calculate what Wes calls their “life goals breakeven.” They will explore the skills and experience to look for and what to avoid when selecting a financial advisory team. Attendees will leave with practical, purposeful strategies that, when implemented, lead to financial independence and greater quality of life.

  Learning Objectives

  • Discover a holistic, simplified strategy for achieving financial freedom 
  • Define your individual financial goals and start with the end in mind 
  • Explore proven solutions for everything from taxes and financial analysis to investments and retirement plans 
  • Learn to calculate the necessary practice collections to meet life goals 
  • Understand factors to look for in selecting your team of advisors 
  • Avoid the setbacks that prevent you from scaling your wealth
    

  Sunday

  Speaker TBD

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• Intro to Employment Law

  • When
    April 30, 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online
  • Spaces left
    40

  Register

  Intro to Employment Law

  This course will serve as an introduction into employment laws that any dentist will encounter while operating his or her own office. The course will be structured around the five areas of employment law: (1) Wage and Hour Laws; (2) Anti-Discrimination Laws; (3) Laws Governing Workplace Health and Safety; (4) Employee Benefit Laws; and (5) Labor Relations Law. The course will touch on each stage of the employment relationship, from Hiring to On-Boarding to Termination. The course will provide tools to a dentist and his or her management staff to address problematic employment issues and resources to mitigate risk around employee disputes. 

  1.5 CE Hours Available
  AGD Subject Code - 250 Operative (Restorative) Dentistry

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• 2026 PEAK Track II Spring Meeting

  • Start
    May 15, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • End
    May 17, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Nittany Lion Inn, State College

  Register

  PAGD's Spring Meeting will be at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College from Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17. 
  

  Friday, May 15

  PEAK Presentations from your Colleagues

  Hear your colleagues present real-world examples of how they implemented lessons learned on orthodontics and full arch from the March 2026 meeting. Nothing to present? Come anyway, the best lessons are often learned from your colleagues.

  
  AGD Subject Code - 130 Electives
  7.0 Credit Hours Available

  Evening Social Event - Local Reception

  
  Saturday, May 16
  

  Occlusion and Treatment Planning for Everyday Practice by Michael Melkers, DDS, FAGD

  Occlusion can be one of the driest and most confusing of subjects. It is, however, one of the most, if not THE most critical aspect of diagnosis and treatment planning when it comes to the longevity of the restorative dentistry that we provide for our patients. ​During this interactive program, Dr. Melkers will guide an exploration and discussion of where we have been as a profession, where we are in our understanding and what mysteries still need to be solved. This course will allow for questions that the attendees bring from their own frustrations, successes, and clinical experience.

  Objectives

  • Making sense of the basics of occlusion
  • Triple trays to fully adjustable articulation...when & why?
  • Facebows, Articulators and CR registrations
  • Jaw & Joint position… When is it important and when does it not really matter?
  • Orthotics, night guards, bite guards and splints
  • Occlusion you can use...that doesn't need to confuse you
  • Why are your restorations breaking and what can you do about it?
  • Purpose vs Process treatment planning
  • How to phase treatment over time to allow for greater case acceptance
  • Communicating with your technician & keeping the details straight
  • Cases, cases...and more cases so you can see how to apply occlusal principles in your treatment planning

  AGD Subject Code - 180 Myofacial Pain/Occlusion
  7.0 Credit Hours Available

  
  

  Sunday, May 17

  Occlusion and Treatment Planning for Everyday Practice, continued by Michael Melkers, DDS, FAGD

  This will be a hands-on continuation of the Saturday didactic course. 

  AGD Subject Code - 180 Myofacial Pain/Occlusion
  7.0 Credit Hours Available

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