A local chapter of the Seattle Study Club® founded by Dr. Scott Frank of North Shore Smile Surgery
Founded in 2004 by Dr. Scott Frank of North Shore Smile Surgery as a local chapter of renowned Seattle Study Club, Elite Dental Group aims to offer its members a high quality, stimulating and comprehensive approach to continuing education in dentistry, and to provide educational opportunities in all aspects of dentistry with a concentration on total case management, comprehensive treatment planning, and supporting practice management, in order to foster growth and progress for local dentists and their practices.
Sixteen years strong, the Elite Dental Group provides a unique opportunity to learn, play and solve. Rather than just provide endless hours of lecture presentation, we create interactive learning experiences. Meetings provide a forum for each member doctor to discuss and plan cases with the collective knowledge of the entire group.
We recognize that we learn more by participation and clinical interaction than by observation. Members often cite that sharing and learning from each other is even more impactful than the outstanding “expert” presentations. The Elite Dental Group touches all aspects of our practice.
We will have interactive programs to sharpen our diagnosis and treatment planning knowledge. Technology and business considerations will be infused into our program throughout the year as well.
We look forward to another wonderful year with outstanding, passionate and driven dentists from our community.
To consistently advance members' skills in treatment planning & to continually improve members' level of dentistry
To ultimately contribute to the improvement of each member's practice by increasing the number and the complexity of restorative cases
To provide a source for the state of the art by developing didactic & clinical sessions in dentistry
To familiarize participants not only with what is possible, but also with what is becoming the most acceptable choice of treatment
To establish a resource center so that all members can call each other for advice
To learn how to treatment plan by studying cases completed by other dentists, as well as by following up & critiquing those cases
We aim to offer a high quality, stimulating and comprehensive approach to continuing education as well as to provide educational opportunities in all aspects of dentistry with concentration on total case management and comprehensive treatment planning.
The group will strive to provide its members with a broader perspective and understanding of comprehensive care and to offer support from their peers to be able to incorporate advanced concepts and treatments into their practices.
Efforts will be directed towards learning from each other, and the diversity of the group in order to stimulate education in all facets of treatment planning.
The Importance of Proper Communication and the Creative Treatment Planning in the Complex Orthodontic Patient
Speaker: Dr. Vince Kokich, Jr.
Friday, April 17
8 a.m.–Noon
Occasionally, the interdisciplinary team is challenged to treat patients with specific anterior esthetic concerns such as missing, impacted, or periodontally compromised teeth, supra-eruption of opposing teeth, extreme occlusal wear, or some combination of these. As a result, treatment planning can be difficult and typically requires a creative, yet collaborative, approach by the orthodontist, surgeon, and restorative dentist to achieve an optimal outcome. Dr. Kokich will highlight the orthodontist’s role on the team in developing treatment plans that will optimize esthetics, while still satisfying specific functional requirements for these patients.
After hearing this presentation attendees should be able to:
About the speaker:
Dr. Vince Kokich, Jr.
Dr. Kokich, Jr. received his dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1996 and completed a general practice residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in 1997. He remained at the University of Washington for his orthodontic training where he obtained his masters in orthodontics in 1999. Since then he has remained on faculty in the Department of Orthodontics as an affiliate assistant professor while maintaining a private practice in Tacoma, Washington.
He has received the Charles L. Pincus Research Award for Clinical Research from the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. His current research and publications are primarily involved with esthetic, interdisciplinary dentistry. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontists and a member of both the Angle Society and the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.
He has written or co-written four book chapters as well as numerous scientific and review articles. Dr. Kokich, Jr. has given over 200 lectures nationally and internationally on interdisciplinary dentistry and dental esthetics emphasizing comprehensive treatment planning and the importance of properly sequencing orthodontic, periodontal, and restorative treatment.
Speaker: Dr. Pat Little
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
While the majority of dental teams are loyal and honest, it only takes one desperate individual to financially ruin a dental practice. Many doctors fail to discover fraud and embezzlement until significant damage has occurred. Learn how to mitigate damages by recognizing important warning signs associated with embezzlement and by understanding the characteristics and behaviors of an embezzler. Dr. Little teaches through actual case studies that he has personally investigated to provide visual images of how embezzlers think.
Course Objectives:
As both a dentist and an accountant, Dr. Pat Little brings a unique blend of skill and experience to his presentations, which focus on financial risk management and financial planning. He integrates his business experience with over 30 years of varying dental experiences, including starting two private practices from “scratch.”
After leaving clinical practice due to disability, Dr. Little returned to college to complete his accounting and general business education. He subsequently achieved the Certified Fraud Examiner certification and joined Prosperident as a senior fraud examiner. Through Prosperident, Dr. Little conducts embezzlement examinations and advises dentists in matters related to fraud and embezzlement. While maintaining his relationship with Prosperident, Dr. Little has expanded his lecturing and consulting services through his own company, where he works with dentists to provide a range of financial management services including retirement plan administration and financial advisory services.
As a continuing education presenter, Dr. Little seeks to provide well-informed and technologically up to date presentations while converting complicated, and sometimes scary, material into “plain English.”
February 5-8, 2020
Arizona Biltmore
Symposium 2020 will focus on treatment planning with the World Team Treatment Planning Championships 2. Join us February 5-8, 2020! Call the Arizona Biltmore directly at (800) 950-0086 to speak with a reservations agent.
Speaker: Jennifer Curtet
Friday, December 13, 2019
In this fast paced and energetic workshop, participants will learn the skills to become a successful coach and mentor who leads their team to achieve phenomenal results. As great leaders, we must develop the tools, techniques, and strategies to solve tough problems but we must also be able to access our Emotional Intelligence to get employees to take initiative, influence them to achieve even more than they believe they can, and have the tact and finesse to engage in difficult conversations that will garner effective results. Our job is not only to manage a business, but to build a loyal team of winners with the initiative and motivation to perform at the top of their game.
Course Objectives
After completing this workshop, managers, supervisors, and team members will have the inspiration, imagination, and creativity to motivate employees to achieve outstanding results by:
In her home state of Arizona, Jennifer Curtet is a community organizer who stands up to create change for the betterment of the city of Phoenix, working in concert with local, state, and federal political leaders. Jennifer is an Executive Director of a non-profit, the state Director for a women’s organization, and on the leadership staff of a 3.8 million person national women’s organization. She inspires and informs thousands in the community, daily, along with mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to create lasting and meaningful change. Suffice it to say, Jennifer knows Leadership and she’s ready to share her secrets with you.
Speaker: Jennifer Curtet
Friday, December 13, 2019
You have worked hard to build a reputation as a leader in the service industry, but it can all fall apart if you don’t manage the customer experience (CX) and the employees, carefully. Maximizing your CX takes a unique skillset to not only guide the customer effortlessly through the experience, but to also expertly lead and motivate your employees, so that they give the customer their very best. By gaining the commitment to exceptional service by every team member, you protect the brand and increase the morale of the environment, thereby guaranteeing a prosperous future for your organization.
Course Objectives
There is no lack of information on the necessity of customer service, or customer expectations about customer service experience. This course takes the obvious need for customer service, develops a philosophical framework and then equips the front-line professionals with practical skills that can be used day in and day out to extend the Lifetime Value of your customers.
In her home state of Arizona, Jennifer Curtet is a community organizer who stands up to create change for the betterment of the city of Phoenix, working in concert with local, state, and federal political leaders. Jennifer is an Executive Director of a non-profit, the state Director for a women’s organization, and on the leadership staff of a 3.8 million person national women’s organization. She inspires and informs thousands in the community, daily, along with mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to create lasting and meaningful change. Suffice it to say, Jennifer knows Leadership and she’s ready to share her secrets with you.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The core and essence of Elite Dental Group programming is found in treatment planning sessions. These sessions provide general dentists and specialists the freedom to test their diagnostic acumen and treatment planning skills. The result is the ability to discuss diagnosis and treatment options with peers in a nonthreatening environment. Ultimately, each of us becomes more comfortable in the planning and treatment of cases, as well as in case presentation. We have several tools to aid in treatment planning in the study club environment and with the patients in your practice. Member are encouraged to identify a case to present and experience presenting a comprehensive case to the group... a great learning opportunity!
Speaker: Dr. Paresh Shah
Friday, October 11, 2019
Participants will be exposed to a variety of technologies to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of everyday dentistry and more complex cases. Lab communication and digital smile design workflows will be presented using clinical cases. Participants will be shown ways to use these technologies & apps to engage patients and facilitate interdisciplinary treatment in a contemporary manner.
Dr. Paresh Shah maintains a private practice in Winnipeg, Canada with a focus on implants, aesthetics, and interdisciplinary care. He also serves as a founder and co-director for a Seattle Study Club affiliate in Winnipeg.
Dr. Shah holds a Master’s degree in physiology (1987) and graduated from the University of Manitoba Dental School in 1991. He has a proficiency certificate in esthetic dentistry from the University of Buffalo (SUNY) in 2007 and a GPR from the University of Manitoba in 1992. He is also a graduate of Misch Implant Institute and the Kois Center. Dr. Shah has served as adjunct faculty at Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UOP) and University of Manitoba Dental School in the past.
Dr. Shah has taken well over 3000 hours of advanced education on all aspects of dentistry. He has numerous fellowships including the ICOI, AGD, and Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is part of Catapult Group, one of dentistry’s premier speakers bureau and product evaluation organizations, serving as a key opinion leader for several dental manufacturers. He has used digital technology in his practice for over nice years. Dr. Shah has been invited to give over 200 lectures in the United States, Canada, Asia, and Australia, and lectures on all aspects of restorative, interdisciplinary care, and digital dentistry.
Speaker: Dr. Paresh Shah
Friday, October 11, 2019
Have you wanted to do more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment but have found that often it falls short when part of the team is disconnected from the process? How can we remain relevant and thrive as corporate dentistry becomes more prevalent? This program will show you ways to develop a team that will help facilitate being a more comprehensive care practice. We will discuss strategies for each of the team members to become more involved in helping the dentist become a more complete clinician – Administrative Staff, Assistants & Hygienists. We will review how to communicate with the various demographics of patients in a manner that suits the way they understand things best. Strategies on training, implementation of new procedures and technologies will be discussed through practical means. Team members will learn ways to be more involved in comprehensive patient care using clinical case discussions. This is an interactive program that is designed to empower the entire team to work at a higher level.
Dr. Paresh Shah maintains a private practice in Winnipeg, Canada with a focus on implants, aesthetics, and interdisciplinary care. He also serves as a founder and co-director for a Seattle Study Club affiliate in Winnipeg.
Dr. Shah holds a Master’s degree in physiology (1987) and graduated from the University of Manitoba Dental School in 1991. He has a proficiency certificate in esthetic dentistry from the University of Buffalo (SUNY) in 2007 and a GPR from the University of Manitoba in 1992. He is also a graduate of Misch Implant Institute and the Kois Center. Dr. Shah has served as adjunct faculty at Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UOP) and University of Manitoba Dental School in the past.
Dr. Shah has taken well over 3000 hours of advanced education on all aspects of dentistry. He has numerous fellowships including the ICOI, AGD, and Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is part of Catapult Group, one of dentistry’s premier speakers bureau and product evaluation organizations, serving as a key opinion leader for several dental manufacturers. He has used digital technology in his practice for over nice years. Dr. Shah has been invited to give over 200 lectures in the United States, Canada, Asia, and Australia, and lectures on all aspects of restorative, interdisciplinary care, and digital dentistry.
Speaker: Dr. Wael N. Garine
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Dr. Garine graduated from Cairo University School of Dentistry in Egypt in 1995 (BDS). After moving to Canada, he joined the Dental School at the University of Western Ontario, where he earned his DDS and received the Dr. Gerald Z. Wright Award for Excellence. He then joined the Eastman Dental Center at University of Rochester in NY where he spent 3 years specializing in prosthodontics. Dr. Garine spent the following year teaching at the University of Rochester and completed the implant fellowship for which he received the Dr. Gerald N. Graser Fellowship Award.
Dr. Garine is the director of the Seaside Study Club (local chapter of the Seattle Study Club® in Jupiter, FL) and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. He maintains a private practice in Jupiter and West Palm Beach, FL limited to prosthodontics and implant dentistry.
Speaker: Todd Williams
Saturday, September 14, 2019
In today’s competitive environment, “great care” loses and exceptional becomes the mandatory baseline. Only exceptional practices and providers make it into a patient’s circle of consideration. Far too many practices misunderstand what defines true quality when it comes to what the consumer is actually looking for. Learn how to stand out in this competitive field of greatness by building a rock-solid foundation of excellence, then build a strong lead over the competition by delivering a staff-wide, heart-felt experience that fosters an absence of worry and an abundance of trust. Learn how our personal drive is paramount in defining our culture.
Todd Williams has three decades of culture development experience in healthcare, hospitality, and countless customer- facing industries. With 20+ years as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts’ senior learning and development manager, he helped develop and implement the cultural training that has defined Four Seasons as the undisputed leader of luxury experiences, defining luxury not as fancy, but instead an “absence of worry.” He was personally responsible for the cultural staff and leadership training at the majority of North American Four Seasons openings since 2008. Knowing “hospitality” is a way of living that puts others first, he’s helped teams in a multitude of industries redefine and refine their customer and associate relations.
In his role with Centura Health as vice president of culture development, he focused on associate engagement, building emotional connections with patients, families and the community, brand differentiation and more—all centered on patient- and provider-centric values and a culture of authentic service. Knowing “excellence” is merely baseline in today’s competitive environment, he’s driven to help care professionals show patients what crafted care, empathetic patience, and heartfelt service looks like in action.
Mr. Williams has a unique skillset for helping individuals find a passionate connection between their work and personal lives. He’s a gifted speaker and an engaging storyteller, and he leads teams via inspiration, not obligation. Today he focuses on executive coaching, team alignment, and practice/clinic service culture excellence. Teaching others to live with purpose is his mission, showing teams that putting their personal calling first is the root of all levels of success.
Over the last decade, numerous technologies have come to dentistry allowing for more efficient workflows, increased diagnostic capabilities, and predictable outcomes. These technologies have been primarily marketed in terms of their clinical benefit; however, many of these technologies can be leveraged in order to get patients in tune with their oral health and increase the likelihood of pursuing both needed and elective treatment. One caveat, however, is that we have very diverse patient pools in our offices today and we must tailor the message appropriately to each generation, so that it resonates. Customized messaging is important as the days of “doctor whatever you say” are fading away. This presentation will show how various technologies can be leveraged in an efficient manner to provide compelling messages to Baby Boomers, GenX, GenY, and GenZ. The presentation will also show the future of technology and how it will impact Generation Glass, a generation that has grown up in front of screens from the day they were born.
Parag R. Kachalia, DDS, maintains a private practice in San Ramon, CA, and is the former vice chair of simulation, technology, and research at the University of the Pacific. He is a fellow of the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. Dr. Kachalia is also a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. In addition, he is a researcher as well as a published author in the areas of dental technology, digital diagnostics, contemporary fixed prosthodontics, and financial management.
In 2017, Dr. Kachalia was selected as one of the Top 10 Young Educators in Dentistry in the United States. He has lectured internationally in the areas of adhesive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, photography, CAD/CAM technology, fixed prosthodontics, treatment planning, erosion, and digital diagnostics. Dr. Kachalia acts as a consultant for many dental materials/dental technology companies and helps guide product development. In addition, he serves as a clinical evaluator for Kinra Dental Value Brands, where he and five other evaluators streamline the buying process for dental professionals by reviewing and presenting products with high value. As a forward thinker, Dr. Kachalia is frequently interviewed regarding his vision of dentistry’s future.
Throughout his career he has maintained a private practice geared toward restorative dentistry with his wife, fellow Pacific alum Dr. Charity Duncan. He believes his continual involvement in providing patient care as well as a role in academia has given him a unique balance that allows him to blend the best of both worlds.
In his spare time, Dr. Kachalia enjoys traveling with his wife and his son. As a family, they make it a point to travel to at least one country outside North America every year, so that they can experience different cultures and truly understand the world. In addition to traveling, Dr. Kachalia enjoys golf and photography.
The injection molding technique with 3M composites and ultra-thin Bioclear anatomical tooth forms creates porcelain-like outcomes at a lower physiologic cost. These monolithic restorations can endure and sparkle for decades. An update of bulk filling and cracked tooth avoidance will be presented. Two hands-on exercise sessions included: (1) Attendees will injection-mold and finish Clark Class II plus cuspal replacement; (2) Injection overmolding to treat mandibular black triangles.
Dr. Clark is codirector of Bioclear Learning Centers International and the founder of the Academy of Microscope- Enhanced Dentistry. He serves on the editorial boards of several journals and has lectured in 20 countries. Along with Dr. John Khademi and Dr. Jihyon Kim, he works with schools and dentists teaching their redesigned restorative and endodontic cavity preparations. For composite dentistry, this includes the nonretentive Clark Class II preparation and restoration, which requires the Injection Molding Filling Technique, and Injection Over-Molding of worn, mis-shaped, and fractured anterior teeth with the Bioclear 360 veneer technique and system. Dr. Clark has developed the Bioclear Matrix System for placement of biologically appropriate, esthetically pleasing direct composite restorations for treating minimally invasive Class II preparations, diastema closure, and black triangle elimination combined with papilla regeneration, and traditional anterior composites. He has several US patents.
He and Dr. Khademi are acknowledged as fathers of minimally invasive endodontics, which was initially rejected by most North American endodontists but is now being embraced by the mainstream. Dr. Clark published the first guide and classification system for dentin and enamel cracks based on 16x magnification and has conducted studies on cracked teeth. He has designed instruments, burs, wedges, matrices, separators, and equipment and has written chapters for both esthetic dentistry and endodontic textbooks. Dr. Clark served for 18 months as the lecturer and lead dentist for CRA during Gordon Christensen’s absence and served on CRA’s board of directors for several years. He maintains a private practice in Tacoma, Washington.
September 12-14, 2019
The Elite Dental Group will join four other Seattle Study Club affiliates from Illinois and Indiana for 2 days of lecture and interactive programs with four outstanding guest leaders. Be sure to join members for drinks and “pre-game” on Thursday evening (September 12).
North Shore Smile Surgery is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing education programs of this program provider are accepted by the AGD for Fellowship/Mastership and membership maintenance credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial board of dentistry or AGD endorsement. The current term of approval extends from 8/1/2019 to 7/31/2022. Provider ID# 318471.
Schedule an appointment with our team to get started on your new smile.
