Dr. Johnson received her doctorate from the University of Tennessee and completed a 3-year pediatric dental residency and master’s at the University of North Carolina. Being a wife, mother, and pediatric dentist brings her immense joy. Dr. Johnson founded Carolina Pediatric Dentistry in 2002 to centralize her family life and provide a dental home for all children.

Dr. Brooke Maryak is a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist. She earned her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine, completed her residency in anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, where she served as Chief Resident, and pursued a Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. She is currently the Vice Chief Medical Officer for Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Associates.

Dr. Kalaskey is a pediatric dentist who believes children embody the best of our world. She enjoys staying current with new technologies and materials to provide top care. Recently, she moved back to West Virginia, her home state, and opened her office! Dr. Kalaskey has completed aerial yoga and sound bath training, and her 200 YTT. She finds joy in yoga's calming environment. She hopes to share this peacefulness with her fellow dentists.

Dr. Ann Bynum, a seasoned pediatric dentist and Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, brings close to three decades of expertise to her practice in Simpsonville, South Carolina. After completing her dental training at the University of Iowa and a pediatric dentistry residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Dr. Bynum established her practice in 1997.  An active member in leadership with the AAPD and the ABPD, she has

published and lectured widely on topics such as customer service, health and wealth, marketing, leadership, and airway health in pediatric patients. Dr. Bynum is dedicated to advancing pediatric dentistry and is a passionate advocate for enhancing practice management and providing optimum oral health care to kids.

Dr. Natalia Chalmers is a board-certified pediatric dentist and 2025 AAPD Pediatric Dentist of

the Year, oral health policy expert, and public health advocate bringing over 20 years of clinical,

research, and regulatory experience to the forefront of dental innovation. As the Chief Dental

Officer and Head of Clinical Innovation at Overjet, she leverages data-driven insights to

transform dental healthcare delivery and ensure access to high-quality, patient-centered care.

Previously, Dr. Chalmers made history as the first Chief Dental Officer in the Office of the

Administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There, she led

groundbreaking initiatives to expand dental coverage, established the first CMS dental claims

processing system, and implemented new quality measurements that reshaped the national

conversation on oral health. Her public sector leadership also includes tenure as a Dental

Officer at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A recognized expert in clinical analytics, Dr. Chalmers is dedicated to advocating for the role of

health policy across the lifespan—viewing dental well-being as intrinsic to whole-person care.

Dr. Chalmers completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the Faculty of Dental Medicine

of the Medical University of Sofia, a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland

School of Dentistry, and a Ph.D. in oral microbiology from the Graduate Partnerships Program

of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the National Institute for Dental and

Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, Post-doctoral Fellowship at the ADA

Forsyth Institute, and Clinical Research Fellowship at the National Institute for Dental and

Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chalmers holds a Master’s degree in

Clinical Research from Duke Medical University and a Certificate in Drug Development and

Regulatory Science from the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Amy Luedemann is a board-certified pediatric dentist, educator, and innovator in interdisciplinary pediatric airway and growth guidance. A longtime leader in laser pediatric dentistry, oral restrictions, ALF therapy, and whole-child care, she is known for creating deeply collaborative models that integrate dentistry with myofunctional therapy, osteopathy, lactation, PT/OT, and other functional disciplines. Her work helps clinicians look beyond structure alone to understand the child’s airway, nervous system, regulation, resilience, and capacity to thrive. Dr. Luedemann is known for her thoughtful, practical, and deeply integrative approach to teaching.

Dr. Brooke is a practicing dentist and dental speaker who has focused her career on expanding access to

care for adult patients who have special healthcare needs. Her main areas of expertise include:

minimally invasive dentistry/preventative dentistry, special care dentistry, portable dentistry and

teledentistry.

Sponsored by Elevate Oral Care

Available During Breakout Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4

Please note there are two parts to this lecture.

Sessions 1, 3 - PART 1 (Lecture)

Sessions 2, 4 - PART 2 (Lecture & Hands-On)

Silver Diamine Fluoride and SMART restorations have been growing in interest in dentistry. Many courses exist where these topics are discussed. This course is different. The learners drive the bus. What is it YOU want to talk about? We will have topics on a slide Jeopardy Style, and the learners will pick which ones we talk about. Learners will keep choosing topics until the time runs out. Learning Objectives covered will vary based on what learners pick.

Learning Objectives:

*will vary based on topics chosen by learners

• Understand the basic science behind SDF and Glass Ionomer

• Be aware of various protocols, with SDF and Glass Ionomer

• Understand partial caries removal

• Indications and contraindications for SDF/SMART

• See Case Examples in adult populations

• Learn other topical medicament options

Sponsored by PDAA

Available During Breakout Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4

This hands-on course trains pediatric dentists in sedation emergencies, airway management, and emergency scenario mock drills using simulation mannequins and real-world scenarios, with a focus on early recognition, airway support, team communication, and initial emergency response.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn to identify and direct the appropriate emergency protocols for sedation-related and medical emergencies in the pediatric dental office.

• Learn to evaluate airway compromise and select appropriate airway management interventions during pediatric sedation emergencies.

• Learn to lead and assess emergency mock drills to reinforce decision-making, communication, and initial emergency response in the office setting.

Sponsored by Overjet

Available During Breakout Sessions 1, 2

Artificial intelligence (AI) is shifting from an optional add-on to a core element of

pediatric dental practice. This session explores five dimensions of AI adoption: evidence, regulation

and policy, education, efficiency, and patient-centered care. It unpacks the meaning of U.S. Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for dental AI companies, which must meet rigorous performance

and risk-assessment criteria, demonstrate clinical validation, secure pre-market approval, and adhere

to continuous post-market surveillance. The session also shows how AI-generated population data can

reveal previously invisible patterns in oral health disease burden and scores, as well as disease

progression. AI is already being integrated into dental curricula to enhance procedural accuracy and

personalized feedback, calibrating students for technology-enabled practice. Early academic adopters

report measurable efficiency gains—consistent diagnostics, streamlined documentation, and

improved case acceptance through visual communication. At its core, AI supports a more patient-

centered approach. Color-coded overlays transform radiographs into images that parents can

understand, strengthening provider-patient trust. AI-enabled oral health scores can further empower

families with actionable prevention insights and transparent records that build trust. By engaging with

these tools now, pediatric dentists can position their practices for sustainable success in an AI-enabled

dental landscape.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the FDA clearance process for dental AI, including performance and risk-assessment criteria, clinical validation, pre-market approval, and post-market surveillance.

• Describe how AI-generated patient-level data can contribute to the evidence base for pediatric dentistry by revealing patterns in disease burden, oral health scores, and disease progression.

• Identify how AI is being integrated into dental education curricula to enhance procedural accuracy and provide personalized feedback for students.

• Evaluate the practice-efficiency benefits of AI adoption, such as consistent diagnostics, streamlined documentation, and improved case acceptance through visual communication.

• Apply AI-powered visualization tools—such as color-coded overlays—to enhance shared decision-making with parents and build trust through transparent, easily understood radiographic findings.

• Develop a strategic framework for technology adoption in your practice that balances evidence, efficiency, and patient-centered care, positioning your practice for long-term success in an AI-enabled dental landscape.

Available During Breakout Sessions 3, 4

Many clinicians have experienced the child whose airway appears larger than at the start of treatment, yet improvements in sleep, breathing, behavior, regulation, or overall function have not occurred as expected. This presentation explores why structural change alone does not always create physiologic change.

Through clinical cases and discussion, participants will examine the relationship between airway development, structural balance, nervous system regulation, and resilience. The goal is not simply to create a larger airway, but to better understand the whole child and the conditions that support lasting health, function, and thriving.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize why increased airway size does not always correlate with improved function, breathing, sleep, or behavior.

• Identify structural patterns that may influence long-term stability and treatment outcomes.

• Describe the relationship between airway development, nervous system regulation, and resilience.

• Recognize clinical signs of dysregulation that may affect growth, development, and response to treatment.

• Apply a broader whole-child perspective when evaluating and supporting children with airway concerns.

Sponsored by NuSmile

Available During Breakout Sessions 1

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate efficient preparation sequences for anterior primary esthetic crowns, including pre-veneered, prefabricated resin, and zirconia crowns, achieving adequate reduction and passive fit.

• Apply appropriate tissue management and cementation techniques to optimize esthetic crown placement and long-term retention.

• Select and perform indirect pulp caps and pulpotomies using calcium silicate-based medicaments to preserve pulp vitality in primary teeth.

Sponsored by NuSmile

Available During Breakout Sessions 2

In this session, participants will learn to fast track posterior primary crowns while protecting pulpal

health and preserving arch space.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate efficient preparation sequences for posterior primary crowns, including stainless steel, resin, and zirconia crowns, with appropriate material selection, tissue management, and cementation technique.

• Select and perform indirect pulp caps and pulpotomies using calcium silicate-based medicaments in posterior primary teeth.

• Determine when premature tooth loss warrants a space maintainer and select and place common space maintainers to preserve arch space and support normal eruption and occlusion.

Available During Breakout Sessions 3

In this session, participants will learn tips to efficiently prep and fill Class II composite resin restorations with anatomically correct contacts.

Learning Objectives:

• Design appropriate Class II preparations and select matrix and wedging systems that support tight, anatomically correct proximal contacts.

• Apply layering and curing strategies that minimize voids and overhangs in Class II composite restorations.

• Perform contouring and finishing techniques that produce durable, well-sealed restorations and reduce the risk of open contacts.

Available During Breakout Sessions 4

In this session, participants will learn to manage fractured anterior permanent incisors from initial

trauma assessment through definitive restoration.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess fractured anterior permanent incisors to determine appropriate trauma management and treatment sequencing.

• Perform Cvek partial pulpotomies using calcium silicate-based materials to preserve pulp vitality in young permanent teeth.

• Apply predictable bonding protocols to rebond fractured fragments, or perform composite buildup techniques when a fragment is unavailable, to restore form and esthetics.

Sponsored by Lightscalpel

Available During Breakout Sessions 1, 2

Tongue tie (ankyloglossia) has long been associated with breastfeeding and speech concerns, but current research reveals its broader impact on sleep, airway development, and long-term health. This keynote presentation, “The Plot Behind the TOT: What’s Hot and What’s Not” explores the evolving landscape of diagnosis, treatment, and interdisciplinary care. Attendees will gain an updated understanding of how restricted tongue mobility contributes to sleep-disordered breathing and craniofacial growth, as well as how collaborative care models drive better outcomes.

Using a “hot vs. not” framework, this session will highlight what’s working in the field — evidence-based screening, team-based care, functional training, and outcome tracking — while calling out outdated or ineffective practices such as “snip and send,” guesswork assessments, and isolated treatment approaches. Practical pearls on integrating tongue tie evaluation into daily practice will be shared, along with strategies to enhance leadership, teamwork, and patient communication.

Attendees will leave with a clear sense of direction: what to adopt, what to avoid, and how to better serve patients by combining clinical excellence with collaborative care. This presentation blends research, real-world cases, and practice growth strategies in an engaging, memorable format

Learning Objectives:

• Identify clinical signs and symptoms of sleep and airway issues in pediatric and adult

patients.

• Evaluate the role of multidisciplinary collaboration (dental, medical, therapy-based) in

optimizing outcomes for tongue-tie treatment.

• Compare effective and ineffective approaches to tongue-tie management, including

assessment, release, aftercare, and functional therapy.

• Apply practical strategies for integrating tongue-tie and airway-focused care into daily

practice, including patient communication, team training, and referral-building.

Sponsored by NuSmile

Available During Breakout Sessions 3, 4

Breakout Session 3

Foundations of Intraosseous Anesthesia

Learning Objectives

• Describe the biological principles and clinical indications for intraosseous anesthesia.

• Explain the clinical workflow for successful intraosseous anesthesia using computer-controlled delivery systems.

• Identify appropriate patient and procedure selection for intraosseous anesthesia.

• Recognize common technique errors and implement strategies to achieve more predictable, profound anesthesia.

• Integrate intraosseous anesthesia into routine restorative, endodontic, pediatric, and emergency dental procedures.

Breakout Session 4

Advanced Intraosseous Anesthesia

Learning Objectives

• Refine injection technique to improve efficiency, accuracy, and patient comfort.

• Apply advanced clinical decision-making when selecting intraosseous anesthesia for complex restorative, endodontic, surgical, and pediatric procedures.

• Troubleshoot anesthetic failures and modify technique to improve clinical outcomes.

• Understand advanced features and clinical applications of the QuickSleeper system.

• Demonstrate increased proficiency through expanded hands-on training with all three delivery systems.

• Develop greater confidence managing challenging anesthetic situations through case-based learning and practical application.