Breakout Sessions

Rising to new heights

supplier sponsored CEs

Colgate Sponsored: Why Do I Keep Getting Cavities?

Becky Horst, RDH, BA

Colgate Sponsored: Why Do I Keep Getting Cavities?

This program will provide the participant with a review of in-house and at-home fluoride therapies in the management of patients who are at risk for caries development and how implementing effective caries treatment protocols such as dispensing fluoride in your practice will garner better patient compliance and treatment outcomes.

Friday, December 5
12:30 pm – 1:00 pmFriday, December 5
1:10 pm – 1:40 pm

DDS Lab Sponsored: Impact of the iTero Lumina on the Two-Visit Digital Denture Workflow

Francisco Morales

Melissa Wissinger

Rebecca Pounds, DDS, FAGD

DDS Lab Sponsored: Impact of the iTero Lumina on the Two-Visit Digital Denture Workflow

This course covers how the digitally fabricated Immediate Denture can serve not only as a transitional prosthesis, but also as a reference for the final denture or a foundation for future implant conversion. Real-world data and case examples will be used to evaluate the two-visit Immediate Denture workflow developed by Heartland Dental, with a focus on how the iTero Lumina compares to previous-generation scanners in terms of edentulous capture, efficiency, and outcome predictability.

Friday, December 5
12:30 pm – 1:00 pmFriday, December 5
1:10 pm – 1:40 pm

vVardis Sponsored: Integrating Curodont: A Blueprint for Clinical and Business Success

Dave Silverstein, DDS

vVardis Sponsored: Integrating Curodont: A Blueprint for Clinical and Business Success

This course is designed to show how integrating Curodont™ Repair Fluoride Plus into your daily workflows does far more than treat early lesions — it transforms your hygiene department into a proactive engine of practice growth. By empowering the hygiene team to confidently identify and treat incipient caries, practices can elevate patient care, boost efficiency, free up valuable doctor chair time, and increase production potential. Through real-world workflows, implementation strategies, and financial insights, we’ll explore how Guided Enamel Repair reshapes both the clinical and business outcomes of the modern dental practice.

Friday, December 5
12:30 pm – 1:00 pmFriday, December 5
1:10 pm – 1:40 pm

learning labs

Champion Mindset

Chaunte Lowe

Champion Mindset

Chaunte Lowe shares her stories of beating impossible odds time and time again. With a champion mindset, she has learned how dampening the noise can help you raise to record setting heights.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Crown Me Right: Choosing Materials & Cements That Last

novice

Lauren Yasuda Rainey, DDS

Crown Me Right: Choosing Materials & Cements That Last

novice

Not all crowns—or cements—are created equal. In this updated lecture, you’ll learn how to choose the right crown material based on esthetics, strength, and budget. Plus, you'll get chemistry-backed cementation protocols that minimize sensitivity and maximize bond strength, even in tricky situations.

Friday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Fixed Locator Systems: Smarter Technique, Stronger Results

intermediate

Xavier Saab, DDS, MS

Fixed Locator Systems: Smarter Technique, Stronger Results

intermediate

Explore the latest in locator attachment systems for overdentures, from updated clinical protocols to real-world communication strategies. This session focuses on simplifying your workflow, improving outcomes, and helping patients feel confident in their treatment decisions. Whether you're refining your approach or looking to boost consistency, you'll leave with tools you can use right away.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmFriday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Invisalign and Beyond: Team-Driven Practice Growth

Francis Maguire, DMD

Heidi Begonia

Givette Marin

Anna Singh, DMD

Ketura Gaines

Invisalign and Beyond: Team-Driven Practice Growth

Learn how to prepare and empower your team to work together toward shared goals whether you're focused on Invisalign or building skills across the board. This session delivers best practices for team alignment, communication, and collaboration that drive real transformation in your practice.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Is Endo a Space Maintainer for an Implant?

novice-intermediate

Karl Woodmansey, DDS

Is Endo a Space Maintainer for an Implant?

novice-intermediate

One of the most debated questions in dentistry: should you save the natural tooth or extract and place an implant? This lecture dives into both sides, comparing longevity, complications, patient preferences, and clinical risk factors. You'll leave with a clearer framework for making the right call—when there isn’t just one right answer.

Friday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Less is More: Mastering the Prep-less Veneer Workflow

intermediate

Marvin Berlin, DDS, MAGD

Less is More: Mastering the Prep-less Veneer Workflow

intermediate

Discover how to deliver beautiful, conservative esthetic results with prep-less veneers. This session walks through smart case selection, smile design strategies, and bonding protocols that preserve enamel while maximizing patient satisfaction. Learn when “less is more” — and how to make it work in your practice.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Lumina Live: Redefining Restorative Excellence

novice

Todd Davis, DMD

Danyal Ahmed, DDS, FAGD

Anthony Callison, DDS

Jeffrey Niedziela, DDS

Emilie Gysi, RDH

Lumina Live: Redefining Restorative Excellence

novice

This immersive panel introduces Lumina, a new restorative technology changing how precision and esthetics are delivered. Learn how to implement it in your practice from early adopters, navigate common integration pitfalls, and see real cases where Lumina elevated outcomes. Perfect for teams ready to lead—not follow—the next restorative wave.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Mastering the First Impression: New Patient Experience and Patient Prism Insights

Amol Nirgudkar

John Savio

Sonja Heckert

Jeremy Stroud

Mastering the First Impression: New Patient Experience and Patient Prism Insights

New patients aren’t just looking – they’re deciding. In this session, we’ll break down how the right marketing strategy brings new patient leads in – and how tools like Patient Prism help you capture them.

Friday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Soundtracks: How the Best Teams Overcome Overthinking to Navigate Change, Increase Productivity, and Win Consistently

Jon Acuff

Soundtracks: How the Best Teams Overcome Overthinking to Navigate Change, Increase Productivity, and Win Consistently

Overthinking prevents nearly everyone from doing their best work. But what if it didn't have to be that way? In this session, learn techniques you and your team could use to transform overthinking from a super problem into a superpower.

Saturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

The Case Acceptance Multiplier: Digital + Human Connection

Amber Mendoza, RDH

Dave Silverstein, DDS

The Case Acceptance Multiplier: Digital + Human Connection

What happens when smart tech meets human connection? You get a powerful multiplier for case acceptance. This session explores how Coverage Clarity, VideaAI Huddle, In-Face Visualization, and OneClick work together to align teams, simplify conversations, and help patients say yes with confidence.

Saturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

The Dental Practice Growth Blueprint: Mastering Financial Metrics for Peak Performance

Vishal Kalavadia, DDS, FAGD

Susan Patel, DDS

The Dental Practice Growth Blueprint: Mastering Financial Metrics for Peak Performance

Dive deep into the core financial drivers that power a successful dental practice, and uncover proven, actionable strategies to accelerate your growth. We'll demystify key metrics like EBITDA, SOG, and more, while demonstrating how data-driven insights can boost your efficiency, elevate performance, and maximize long-term profitability. Perfect for those ready to level up their business acumen!

Saturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

The Power of the Referral: Driving Case Acceptance through Stronger GP and Specialty Partnerships

Roger Levin, DDS

The Power of the Referral: Driving Case Acceptance through Stronger GP and Specialty Partnerships

This course explores the deeper value of patient referrals - looking beyond production to focus on treatment completion, patient experience, and professional trust. Learn how to strengthen GP and specialist alignment to improve communication, reduce friction points, and drive higher case acceptance.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

The Pulp May Not Be the Problem

advanced

David Landwehr, DDS

The Pulp May Not Be the Problem

advanced

When a patient presents with pain or radiolucency, is it endo, oral pathology, or something surgical? This interdisciplinary panel tackles the diagnostic gray zones using CBCT and radiographs to explore how different specialties interpret the same case. You'll hear how an endodontist, an oral pathologist, and a surgeon would each approach diagnosis and treatment—and what happens when their answers don’t match.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Unlocking Specialty Growth: A Scientific Approach to Maximizing Referrals, Case Acceptance and Market Opportunity

Roger Levin, DDS

Unlocking Specialty Growth: A Scientific Approach to Maximizing Referrals, Case Acceptance and Market Opportunity

This fast-moving session is packed with real-world strategies to help specialists grow their practice. Learn how to build strong referral pipelines, get more patients to say yes, and run your office more efficiently—all backed by decades of data and proven systems.

Friday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

seminars

Restorative Implants & Managing Complications: What Works, What Breaks and How to Fix it

intermediate

Jacob Berger, DMD

Ben Hanson, DMD

Restorative Implants & Managing Complications: What Works, What Breaks and How to Fix it

intermediate

Learn how to spot implant trouble before it starts—and what to do when it does. This seminar covers real-case complications from loose screws to peri-implantitis, with solutions for saving smiles and avoiding failures. A must-attend for anyone restoring implants regularly or stepping into complex cases.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Nerve of It All: Saving Smiles with Endo

novice

David Landwehr, DDS

The Nerve of It All: Saving Smiles with Endo

novice

Gain the confidence to take on endo with practical strategies, real-world cases, and solutions for common complications—so you can treat with skill and peace of mind.

Saturday, December 6
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

To Take or Not to Take: The Evolving Art of Third Molar Extractions

intermediate

Brady Morehead, DDS, MAGD

George Khazoum, DDS, FAGD

To Take or Not to Take: The Evolving Art of Third Molar Extractions

intermediate

Wisdom tooth management is changing—so should your approach. This session covers updated guidelines for assessing third molars, case selection tips, and modern surgical techniques using real case video. You'll learn when to extract, when to monitor, and how to reduce complications whether you’re doing the surgery yourself or referring it out.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

workshops

From Keynote to Chairside

intermediate

Tommy Dorsey, DDS

From Keynote to Chairside

intermediate

Immediately following the keynote, join a hands-on session designed to bring Dr. Galler’s strategies to life. This interactive experience will walk through real case scenarios using Invisalign tools giving doctors the confidence to apply what they’ve learned first thing Monday.

Friday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Hands-On with AI: Smarter, Faster, Better Dentistry

novice-intermediate

Michael Badger, DDS, MAGD

Qais Musmar, DDS

Hands-On with AI: Smarter, Faster, Better Dentistry

novice-intermediate

Explore the real-world impact of AI in diagnostics, treatment planning, and communication. In this interactive session, you'll work through case scenarios using AI tools to improve accuracy, save chair time, and wow your patients. Whether you’re new to AI or ready to level up, this session delivers practical skills you can implement Monday morning

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmFriday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Happy Socket, Happy Patient: Decision-Making & Material Mastery

novice-intermediate

Gerald Awadzi, DMD, FAGD, MBA, MHA

Brendan Hallissey, DMD, ADAAID

Happy Socket, Happy Patient: Decision-Making & Material Mastery

novice-intermediate

Grafting doesn’t have to be complicated—or boring. This workshop teaches when socket grafting is necessary (and when it’s not), how to choose the right materials, and how to deliver results that keep patients and referring docs happy. You’ll handle different biomaterials and leave with confidence, not just a protocol.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmFriday, December 5
3:30 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Light It Up: Laser Integration for Perio & Pain Management

intermediate

Brenda D. Donato, DMD

Ana Cecilia Aranha, CD, MS, PhD

Light It Up: Laser Integration for Perio & Pain Management

intermediate

Lasers are more than hype—they’re about to be reimbursable. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll get clinical experience using diode lasers for periodontal therapy, soft tissue procedures, and pain management applications tied to the new 2026 CDT code. Learn settings, protocols, safety, and billing strategies in a guided, low-risk environment.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Shape Smarter: Endodontic Access Principles

novice-intermediate

Steven Dobbs, DMD

Shape Smarter: Endodontic Access Principles

novice-intermediate

This hands-on workshop focuses on access cavity design, instrumentation, and preservation of tooth structure—the foundations of efficient and successful endodontics. You'll work through practical techniques to improve precision, conserve tooth integrity, and set yourself up for cleaner shaping and obturation. Ideal for both early-career clinicians and experienced GPs looking to level up.

Friday, December 5
1:45 pm – 3:00 pmFriday, December 5
3:00 pm – 4:45 pmSaturday, December 6
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Contact Us

winterconference@heartland.com

A Career You Love. An Education For A Lifetime. At Heartland Dental University, the pursuit of learning and mastery never ends. We meet the future head-on because we know real learning happens when experience and imagination collide. In addition to accessing our proprietary live, virtual, and on-demand workshops, HDU offers classes led by external partners and industry leaders.

Heartland Dental
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit
Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
1/1/2025 to 12/31/2028
Provider ID# 217781