April 17-18, 2026 • Omni Bedford Springs Resort and Spa • 2198 Sweet Root Rd, Bedford, PA 15522
Continuing Education - Friday, April 17
Restoring Dental Implants—A Practical Approach to Clinical Success
Presented by Mark E. Hyman, DDS
9:00 a.m. – Noon 3 CE credits appropriate for dentists, dental assistants and EFDAs.
Education Methods: lecture, slides, case studies and discussion
Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed groundbreaking advancements that have revolutionized dentistry and transformed the way we work. Dental implants, as a permanent teeth replacement solution, offer unparalleled stability and function never seen before. Dr. Mark takes you through a series of practical strategies to help you and your team succeed in the delivery of optimal care.
At the conclusion of the course, the participant should be able to:
- Review diagnostic and treatment planning protocols.
- Consider the vital relationships and communication with our dental specialists.
- Engage your team in the delivery of optimal care.
- Learn how to recover from failure and challenges when things go wrong.
About the Speaker
Mark E. Hyman, DDS
Dr. Mark E. Hyman is a renowned dentist from Greensboro, North Carolina, and a public speaker whose work is characterized by his warmth, enthusiasm, sense of humor, and passion for dentistry. He earned his DDS degree from the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry and after graduating, Dr. Hyman moved to Israel to serve as a volunteer dentist on Kibbutz Gadot in the Upper Galilee for four months. After living in Israel, he completed the prestigious two-year oral medicine and general practice residency at University North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was in private practice for 32 years and currently serves as an Adjunct Full Professor and Special Assistant to the Office of the Dean at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Hyman has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Luncheon and Address – Looking Ahead to the ‘Next Era’ of Oral Health: Opportunities and Challenges
12:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Presented by Marko Vujicic, PhD, Chief Economist & Vice President, ADA’s Health Policy Institute
Health care policy in the U.S. is charting a new course. The Make America Healthy Again movement – and whatever comes next – is likely to be disruptive, challenging, and a departure from traditional approaches to health care reform. At the same time, such disruptions bring unique opportunities. Dentistry is not immune to the forces of health care reform. In fact, in some areas, dentistry has become front and center to certain Administration priorities related to ‘chemicals, ’ ‘poisons’ and ‘impurities.’
This session will provide an update on major trends affecting dentistry, the new opportunities and challenges they bring, and where we go next. It will cover longer-term trends reshaping the profession, such as shifting practice models, altered career paths, new economic realities dentists are facing, and shifting patient expectations. It will also look ahead to discuss and debate where oral health policy – and the profession – go in the ‘next era’—lots of time for discussion and debate. Get ready to be uncomfortable!
About the Speaker
Marko Vujicic, PhD
Dr. Marko Vujicic currently serves as Chief Economist and Vice President of the Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association. Previously, he was Senior Economist with The World Bank in Washington, D.C., where he focused on health systems reform in developing countries and directed the global health workforce policy program. He was also a Health Economist with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. In all of these roles, Dr. Vujicic led large-scale strategic initiatives focused on bringing cutting-edge data and research to specific health policy challenges. And, he has been provided testimony to federal and state legislative committees
Act 124 – Evidence-based Analgesia for Post-Surgical Dental Pain
Presented by Katherine N. Theken, PharmD, PhD
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 pm. 2 CE credits appropriate for dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and EFDAs.
Fulfills Act 124 CE requirement for dentists with or using a DEA registration as allowed by law.
Education Methods: lecture, slides and discussion
The prescription opioid crisis has prioritized the use of non-addictive analgesics for post-surgical dental pain. This course will review the evidence regarding the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in treating dental pain and discuss scenarios where prescription opioids might be warranted. The recently released clinical practice guideline will be reviewed. Responsible prescribing opioid prescribing practices and risks of opioid abuse will also be discussed.
At the conclusion of the course, participants should be able to:
- Summarize the evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of NSAIDs vs. opioids in pain management following third molar extraction.
- Describe patient populations in which opioids would be preferred for treating post-surgical dental pain.
- Discuss some opioid-sparing strategies for pain management.
About the Speaker
Katherine N. Theken, PharmD, PhD
Dr. Theken is an assistant professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She completed her PharmD at the University of Pittsburgh, her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research investigates the factors that contribute to inter-individual variability in drug response in the management of post-surgical dental pain. Dr. Theken has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.