Continuing Education

2012 Dental Hygiene Symposium

Our Annual Dental Hygiene Symposium will be held on September 21st, 2012 at The Great Wolf Lodge.  This program will feature Dr. Steven Offenbacher who will be presenting a program based on periodontal disease.

Dr. Steve Offenbacher joined the department of Periodontology at UNC School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC in 1991 and was awarded full professorship in 1994. In 2003, he was appointed the OraPharma Distinguished Professor of Periodontal Medicine and is the Director of the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases. He was appointed Chair in the Department of Periodontology effective July 1, 2010 after serving 4 months as interim Chair. Prior to joining the academic staff at UNC, Dr. Offenbacher was a member of the faculty at Emory University where he served as Chair of the department of Periodontology.

Dr. Offenbacher earned his D.D.S. at the Medical College of Virginia, followed by his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from MCV. He was awarded his Master of Medical Sciences in Oral Biology from Harvard Medical School. He completed a three-year program for his Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pharmacology at Forsyth Dental Center in Boston and his Certificate in Periodontology and Oral Medicine at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Offenbacher has published over 250 papers, articles, book chapters and manuscripts. His research focuses on the following three areas: (1) molecular epidemiology investigating the relationship of periodontal disease to premature birth, atherosclerosis, heart disease and diabetes, (2) clinical and translational research in pharmacological modification of the host response to treat periodontal diseases, and (3) periodontal clinical trials to improve cardiovascular and diabetic health and pregnancy outcomes.

Dr. Offenbacher is a past president of the American Association for Dental Research. His national and international honors include the International Association for Dental Research's Basic Research in Periodontal Disease Award, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Special Impact Award and the American Dental Association's Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research. He introduced and popularized the term periodontal medicine and for his translational research has become a three-time recipient of the American Academy of Periodontology Clinical Research Award.

Dr. Offenbacher is the Principal Investigator on three NIH grants: (1) a multi-centered clinical trial follow-up study to determine the effects of maternal periodontal therapy on subsequent neonatal morbidity and mortality and neurological development among a specialized subset of high risk and low risk infants (2) a program to transform the local, regional and national environment for clinical and translational science and (3) a program to create a web-based clinical and translational dental research toolkit. He is also CO-PI on a NIH grant looking to examine the relationship between periodontal disease, traditional coronary risk factors, inflammatory markers, measures of insulin sensitivity, biomarkers associated with NFKP activation pathways and 8-isoprostane levels on the primary outcome, non-calcified (soft) coronary plaque.

Lunch & Learn Programs

Root Coverage

This program reviews the classification system for diagnosing and assigning prognosis to gingival recession followed by an in-depth discussion of treatment options and rationales.  Particular focus is given to root coverage with acellular dermal matrix and free gingival grafting.

Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Periodontal Disease

This program is based on a presentation designed by the Academy of Periodontology.  The discussion centers on the diagnosis and prognosis of the varying types of periodontal disease and the range of treatment options offered at the Washington Center for Dental Specialties.

Basic Program Information

Dr. Echols or Dr. Coppin will come to your office during your lunch hour and give an interactive presentation that generally lasts 40-45 minutes.  These programs can be tailored to meet your office's specific time constraints and we can combine different programs based on your office's interests.  Every member of the staff is invited and lunch and 2 CE credits will be provided for each participant.  These programs also give an opportunity for your staff to ask Dr. Echols and Dr. Coppin any questions you may have about our treatment philosophy and the services we provide for you and your patients.

Past Programs

2011

Featured Speaker Dr. David Schwab

Dental Hygiene Symposium

Featured Speaker Dr. Dolphine Oda

Featured Speaker Dr. Stanley Malamed

2010

Dental Hygiene Symposium

Featured Speaker Dr. Dolphine Oda

Featured Speaker Dr. Stanley Malamed

2009

Dental Hygiene Symposium

Featured Speaker Trisha E. O'Hehir RDH, BS

Front Office Seminar

Featured Speaker Belle DuCharme

2008

Dental Hygiene Symposium

Featured Speaker Anna Pattison RDH, BS

2007

Dental Hygiene Symposium

Featured Speaker Dr. Joyce Otomo-Corgel

Event Photos

coming soon...