Jim Grisdale
B.A., D.D.S., Dip. Prosth., Dip. Perio., M.R.C.D.(C) Certified Specialist in Periodontics and Prosthodontics

Thursday, May 18
8:30am – 11:30am: Contemporary Periodontal Flap Surgery for the Modern-Day Dental Practice
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Key Essentials for Successful Bone Grafting Techniques for Socket Preservation and Augmentation for Implants and Restorative Dentistry: The Basics and Future Trends

Friday, May 19
8:30am -11:30am: Implant Maintenance Therapy 101 for the Dental Team:
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Emerging Trends in Periodontics in the 21st Century New Dimensions in the Etiology, Pathogenesis and Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Bio:
Dr. Grisdale is a Board Certified Specialist in Periodontics and Prosthodontics with a part-time private practice in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dr. Grisdale received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from McGill University, as well as a post graduate degree in Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics. He then went on to the University of British Columbia where he received another postgraduate degree in Periodontics. Dr. Grisdale was formerly a full time faculty member in the graduate periodontal residency program at Loma Linda School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA and is currently an invited lecturer. Dr. Grisdale lectures extensively in the United States, Canada, and has lectured in Southeast Asia and Europe. He is a mentor for Periodontic and Implant Study Clubs. Dr. Grisdale has published in the area of treatment for dentin sensitivity, implants, bone regeneration and soft tissue periodontal adhesives. He is an active participant in clinical research and the study of contemporary periodontal products. He is a member of several professional societies. 


Randy Huffines, DDS, FRCSEd

(These courses will not be available virtually)

Thursday, May 18, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Autoimmune Disease and Dentistry
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Xtreme Prevention

Friday, May 19, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Restorative Challenges in Older Adults
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Successfully Treating Older Adults: Techniques for the Entire Dental Team

Bio:
For over 35 years, Dr. Randy Huffines has treated older and medically complex adults in a traditional private practice, nursing homes, and hospitals. He left practice for 2 years in 1988 to complete a two-year clinical Fellowship in Geriatric Dentistry. For 27 years he was Director of Geriatric Dentistry at the Quillen Medical Center in Johnson City, TN. Randy has held faculty appointments in colleges of dentistry, medicine, nursing, and allied health. He received the 2021 Award for Excellence in Geriatric Dentistry from the Special Care Dentistry Association. Dr. Huffines is a Past President and a Fellow of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, and Diplomate of the American Board Special Care Dentistry. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, Scotland with a Membership in Special Needs Dentistry.

Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS

Thursday, May 18, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Orofacial Pain, Part 1
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Orafacial Pain, Part 2

Bio:
Dr. Patel received his dental degree from the University of Tennessee in 1994.  After graduation he completed a one-year residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD). In 2011 he completed a Masters in Science from Tufts University in the area of Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Patel has earned a Fellowship in the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  He also has earned Diplomate in the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Board of Orofacial Pain, American Board of Craniofacial Pain and American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. 
Presently, Dr. Patel is a cofounder of the British Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and Ben-Pat Institute.  He also served on the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain as secretary, board member of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine, and a board member and as examination chair for the American Board of Craniofacial Pain and American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. Holds adjunct faculty with the Atlanta Sleep School, and Augusta University. In the past has served as a founding and board member of the Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals.
Since 2003, Dr. Patel has limited his practice to the treatment of TMJ Disorders, Headaches, Facial Pain and Sleep Apnea.  Additional contributions have been published a textbook for Dental Sleep Medicine and numerous textbook chapters on orofacial pain and dental sleep medicine, consumer books, one on treatment options for sleep apnea and the other on understanding temporomandibular disorders, and various professional and consumer articles.
Dr. Patel speaks nationally and internationally on topics of dental sleep medicine, Orofacial pain and TMJ disorders.




Theresa S. Gonzales, DMD, MS, MSS

Friday, May 19, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Oral Mucosal Pathology – “Common Things Occur Commonly”
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Emerging Trends in the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Orofacial Pain

Bio:
Dr. Theresa Gonzales is an award-winning educator and administrator and has served the profession and this Nation over the past forty years. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of the American College of Dentists. After more than 30 years of distinguished military service, she retired from the United States Army with the rank of Colonel. During her long and storied career, she was the nominative selection as the Director of Strategic Communications for the Army Surgeon General in Washington, DC. She commanded formations in Africa, Europe, and the United States. Prior to her successive command selections, she served as Director of Orofacial Pain Management and a Staff Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and as an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Dr. Gonzales graduated with distinction from the College of Charleston, and she received her DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina. She began her military career at Fort Jackson, South Carolina as a resident in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. Subsequently, she completed a residency training program in oral and maxillofacial pathology in 1992 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. In 2006, she completed a two-year fellowship in Orofacial Pain at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School and completed a Master of Science in Health Care from George Washington University. She has received the Order of Military Merit and the Surgeon General’s A designator for clinical excellence. In her academic career, she has been nominated as an outstanding educator no fewer than fifteen times.
Theresa has published more than seventy-five articles in peer-reviewed journals, eleven book chapters, and served as a reviewer for seminal publications in her areas of expertise. Theresa is an award-winning lecturer and she presented more than one thousand hours of continuing education lectures both nationally and internationally.

Glenn Maron, DDS

Thursday, May 18, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am:  Medical Update for Dentistry- From Bisphosphonates to Blood Thinners
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Medical Emergencies in the Dental office

Bio:
Dr. Maron attended Emory University Dental School and residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, followed by a 1 year fellowship in reconstructive surgery. After finishing his residency at Emory, Dr. Glenn Maron has remained in Atlanta where he was a full time faculty member at Emory until 1994. After leaving  Emory, he continued his private practice in Midtown Atlanta.  He was the official Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon for the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. That experience was his first foray into the sports world.  In 1999 he was named the maxillofacial surgeon for the Atlanta Thrashers hockey club and was the team surgeon until 2013 when the team left Atlanta.  He also worked for 6 years with the Atlanta Falcons and continues to work with the Atlanta Braves baseball team and as the  Maxillofacial Surgeon for the Atlanta United MLS team.   Last year, he was  named maxillo-facial consultant for the NHL and is the past president of the Georgia Society of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery.  Dr. Maron has also been appointed to the examination committee for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is the Co-chair of the CE committee, and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  Most recently, Dr. Maron has been appointed as the President of the Georgia Board of Dentistry by Governor Kemp.

Robert A. Lowe, DDS

Friday, May 19 
8:30am - 11:30am : Creative Treatment Options In Crown And Bridge
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Expanding Your Aesthetic Palate in Cosmetic Dentistry”

Saturday , May 20, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Bioactive Dental Materials: The Future is Now!

Bio:
Dr. Robert A. Lowe received his DDS degree, magna cum laude, Loyola University in 1982, has maintained a full-time practice for 30 years, and is a world-recognized teacher and clinician. He taught for 10 years at Loyola University School of Dentistry and has received Fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry, International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International, American College of Dentists, and the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. In 2004,

Dr. Lowe received the Gordon Christensen Outstanding Lecturer Award and in 2005 received Diplomate status on the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Lowe has authored numerous scientific articles and has contributed to dental textbooks. He is a consultant for a number of dental manufacturers. Dentistry Today consistently names Dr. Lowe to the “Top 100 Clinicians in Dentistry”.


Dr. John Olmsted

Friday, May 19 : 
(These courses will not be available virtually)
8:30-11:30 AM  Lecture: 
Cutting Edge Endodontics: Diagnosis, Anesthesia, Access, Instrumentation Advancements
1:30pm - 4:30-pm Lecture: Embracing Endodontic Technology: Irrigation, Obturation, Restoration, Post-Op

Saturday, May 20: 
(This course will not be available virtually) 
8:30am - 11:30apm: Hands on Course:  Excellent and Efficient Endodontic Workshop

Dr. John S. Olmsted is a past President of the American Association of Endodontists, and past General Chairperson of the American Dental Association 2004 Orlando, FL Meeting. He has been active in practice, teaching, lecturing, and professional dental organizations for the past 46 years. John has presented 630 days of scientific sessions with international, national, regional, state dental meetings, and dental schools. He is emeritus in a group endodontic practice in Greensboro, NC with Dr. Hal W. Mohorn, Jr., Dr. Matthew Baird, Dr. Will Stanley, Dr. Leslie Malueg, Dr. Nathan Horwitz, Dr. Josh Morrow, Dr. Zack Mohorn; Dr. H. Wayne Mohorn, Sr. (1971-2019), Dr. Stuart B. Fountain (emeritus), Dennis L. Torney (emeritus), Dr. Steven G. Mohorn (emeritus) Dr. Ken Morgan, Jr.,(emeritus).

John received his DDS from the University of Iowa in 1975 and was awarded OKU. He earned his MS from the University of North Carolina in 1977 and is currently an Adjunct Professor in Endodontics at the University of North Carolina and the University of Iowa. He is certified by the American Board of Endodontics and obtained his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) in 1984, Fellowship in the International College of Dentists (FICD) in 1989, Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 1993, and Fellowship in the American College of Dentists (FACD) in 1995.

Karen Gregory, RN, CDIPC

Saturday, May 20, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Be Calm + Follow  the Rules! An OSHA and Infection Control Review

Bio:
Karen describes herself as a registered nurse who found her home in the dental community. With over 20 years of compliance experience, Karen recently launched her own consulting company, Karen Gregory Consulting, LLC. She will continue to utilize her passion for process and policy to support healthcare providers create a safe space for workers and patients.

Karen was one of the first recipients of the Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control® (CDIPC®) certification. She has also been the recipient of several OSAP awards including the Dr. James J. Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award. To give back to her community and live out her faith, Karen has been involved in numerous Mission of Mercy dental clinics.
 
As part of her dedication to patient and worker safety, Karen Co-Chairs the OSAP Boot Camp Program Committee, is on the editorial review board for Infection Control in Practice, a Hu-Friedy KOL and a consultant for SciCan.
 
You can be assured that Karen’s presentations are informative, practical, and also entertaining.. She will continue to utilize her passion for process and policy to support healthcare providers create a safe space for workers and patients.

Dr. Bill Claytor

Saturday, May 20, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Strategies to Mitigate Opioid Prescribing in the Dental Office

Bio:
  • Graduated from the University of North Carolina (Adams) School of Dentistry and completed a two year General Practice Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina.
  • Received the Academy of General Dentistry’s coveted Fellowship and Mastership, and most recently the prestigious AGD Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition Award.
  • Earned a certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling from Union College.
  • Administrative Director, North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals.
  • Consultant and Board Member of the Dental Well-Being Advisory Committee of the American Dental Association in Chicago.
  • Contributor to textbook: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning In Dentistry, 4th Edition, by Drs. Stefanac and Nesbit.
  • Panelist for the ADA 2022 “Management of Acute Dental Pain Clinical Practice Evidence-based Guideline”.
  • eBook: Burnout and Perfectionism: Are They Inevitable? - available on Amazon.com / Amazon Kindle.
  • Recipient of the C.V. Winter Advocacy Award from the North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals.
  • Provides the continuing education course, “N. C. Dental Opioid Update Course” each year since 2016 for dental license renewal in North Carolina.
  • Lectures in North Carolina and the U.S. on the Opioid Epidemic, the Marijuana Dilemma, Burnout, Perfectionism and Addiction.
  • Webinars for the NCDS and ADA on Marijuana, the Opioid Epidemic, Stress and Burnout During the Covid Era, and Perfectionism.
  • Lectured at the 2019 ADA’s Dental Health and Wellness National Conference in Chicago, the Southeastern Conference on Addiction and Behavioral Health,  the Annual Session of the Colorado Dental Association, the Tennessee Wellness Foundation and recently the NC Dental Hygiene Association Annual Meeting.
  • Key Opinion Leader for Dentsply Sirona since 2017.
  • Writes for several dental publications and online magazines about digital dentistry, endodontics, cone beam technology.
  • Contributor for “Ask Bill” on www.digitalenamel.com, where he addresses current and relevant issues facing dentists today, including substance abuse, perfectionism and professional burnout.
  • Bill and his wife Lisa enjoy life with their two children, William and Jennifer, and their Jack Russell Terrier, Bailey.

Joanne Roberts, CDA, BS

Friday, May 19, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Common Knowledge….for Dental Assistants, Part 1 (Lecture)
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Common Knowledge….for Dental Assistants, Part 2 (Hands-On Workshop)

Bio:
Joanna Roberts, CDA began her career in dental assisting in 1992.   She is currently in her 27th year as a dental assisting educator and is currently the Department Head for the Dental Assisting program at Alamance Community College in Graham, N.C.  

Joanna obtained her diploma in Dental Assisting from Alamance Community College and her Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Studies from Pennsylvanian College of Technology.   She began her career as an Orthodontic Assistant and started assisting in General Dentistry when she began her teaching career.  Joanna is passionate about the profession of dental assisting and training the next generation of dental assistants.

Joanna and her husband Jody of 29 years, reside in Alamance County, NC with their three children.    

Donna Pruitt, CDA, BS

Friday, May 19, 2023
8:30am - 11:30am: Common Knowledge….for Dental Assistants, Part 1 (Lecture)
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Common Knowledge….for Dental Assistants, Part 2 (Hands-On Workshop)

Bio:
Donna Pruitt, CDA began her career in dental assisting in 1991, with greater than 30 years of dental assisting experience she brings real life experiences and knowledge to the classroom where is has been training dental assistant since 2004. 

Donna is a graduate from Alamance Community College, Graham, NC where she earned her diploma in dental assisting and Bellevue University, Nebraska earning her BS in Adult Education. She began her career as a chairside dental assistant in a private dental practice before returning to Alamance CC as a full time instructor for the dental assisting department. “Training, educating, and instructing students to become valued leaders for our dental community has always been the driving force behind what I do.

Donna and her husband of 27 years, Tim, reside on their family farm in Caswell County, NC. They have one son, Justen.

Ronald Perry, EMT, Paramedic

CPR Certification will be offered  from  8:30am - 11:30am and 1:30pm - 4:30pm on Thursday and Friday. It will be offered 8:30am - 11:30am on Saturday.

Ronald has been in the Emergency Medical Services field for 25+ years.  He has been training students in CPR and First Aid for many of those years for employers within various industries (dental, medical, hospitality) as well as local churches and civic groups.  He is a certified instructor through the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI).
Ronald is a retired EMT-Paramedic from Nash County EMS and served full-time with them for 23 years.  He also served in the same capacity with Wake Medical Mobile Cardiac Care Unit and West Edgecombe Rescue Squad.  Ronald began his CPR instruction business on a part-time basis while working with Nash County and soon learned of the great value it had on his community.

After retirement, Ronald recognized the growing need of the public to learn CPR and lifesaving skills at an affordable price; Therefore, he began teaching classes full-time in the hopes of helping his customers maintain their required certification and training of new employees.  Ronald’s teaching philosophy is to keep the class content relevant to real life scenarios, informative and most of all, fun.  Students are much more successful when they are actively engaged and enjoy the class.

When he is not teaching, Ronald enjoys yard work, hunting and taking cruises with his wife and family.