2027 Winter Scientific Session

FOR DENTISTS AND CLINICAL STAFF

Combine outdoor fun with CE credits at the MDA Winter Scientific Session, to be held January 8-10, 2027, at Crystal Mountain. Come join us, and be sure to bring the family! Meet your colleagues for a few hours of study each day, and then hit the slopes! Choose from a variety of ski packages and accommodations. No wonder the MDA Winter Scientific Session is such a favorite every year.

Friday Jan. 8, 2027 - 6:00 – 9:00 pm NEW TIME! (light dinner provided) 

Systemic Interpretation of Panoramic Radiographs and Benign/Malignant Lesions of the Jaws

Description to come

Learning objectives:

• Objectives to come

About the Speaker

Dr. Erika Benavides is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She is a Diplomate and Vice-President of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (ABOMR) and has served as Councilor for Communications and Chair of the Research and Technology Committee of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR). She received her DDS from the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia. She then completed an externship program in the Craniofacial Genetics Department at the Medical University of South Carolina. Subsequently, she completed a General Practice Residency (GPR) program at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) and the Truman Medical Center. At UMKC, she also received her Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology training and a PhD in Oral Biology and Biomedical Engineering. 

Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027 - 8–11 am (breakfast provided) 

Dental Imaging Best Practices and Systematic Interpretation of CBCT Scans

Description to come

Learning objectives:

• Objectives to come

About the Speaker

Dr. Erika Benavides is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She is a Diplomate and Vice-President of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (ABOMR) and has served as Councilor for Communications and Chair of the Research and Technology Committee of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR). She received her DDS from the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia. She then completed an externship program in the Craniofacial Genetics Department at the Medical University of South Carolina. Subsequently, she completed a General Practice Residency (GPR) program at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) and the Truman Medical Center. At UMKC, she also received her Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology training and a PhD in Oral Biology and Biomedical Engineering. 

Sunday Jan. 10, 2027 - 7:30–10:30 am (breakfast provided) 

Review of the 2017 Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions, and Treatment Options

The 2017 update of Periodontal and Peri-implant disease classifications can help guide comprehensive treatment planning and lead the way for personalized patient care. According to the American Academy of Periodontology the updated classification takes into consideration disease severity, treatment complexity, rate of disease progression and risk factors. This can help predict an individual’s response to treatment. We will review the clinical parameters needed for proper staging and grading of periodontal disease including clinical attachment loss, charting and radiographic bone loss. 

The second part of the lecture will discuss periodontal treatment planning, expected outcomes and options to treat periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Come ready for an engaging discussion about perio. 

Learning objectives:

• To review the most recent periodontal disease classifications and why an update was warranted.
• Learn how to review relevant clinical parameters needed for an accurate diagnosis, and in turn, treatment plan.
• Understand about staging and grading and how they can be relevant in a comprehensive plan.
• Non-surgical and surgical treatment options and their outcomes will be discussed, including plans for peri-implantitis. 

Dr. Linda Dobis is a periodontist with more than 25 years of experience in periodontics and implants. She is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and completed a general practice residency at the University of Iowa, where she also received her certificate in periodontics and implantology. Dr. Dobis has invested in educating patients, colleagues, and students for many years. She speaks about her field often, sharing her expertise in local and regional forums. 

Financial support provided by MDA Insurance and MDA Services.