Fibre reinforced restorative materials have a range of uses in restorative dentistry, and they enhance the options available for replacing missing teeth and strengthening weakened teeth.

Resin impregnated glass fibres provide an excellent option for cost effective and functional fibre reinforced adhesive bridges, and the newer short fibre reinforced composites (SFRC), due to their extremely high fracture toughness, provide an excellent option for reinforcing teeth. These SFRC are particularly effective for restoring badly broken down and endodontically treated teeth.

This workshop will provide clinical information and a ‘hands-on’ experience with resin-impregnated fibre reinforcing materials and SFRC combined with a range of aesthetic and high strength composite resins. Techniques for creating aesthetic and functional anterior bridges and for provision of high strength anterior and posterior restorations will be undertaken.

Materials handling and clinical hints and tips will be highlighted to assist in ensuring successful patient outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

This hands-on interactive workshop will provide participants with a range of clinical experiences including;

• Enhancing knowledge of fibre reinforced composites – the material types, their properties, and their indications for use
• Appreciating the importance of clinical case selection, the treatment options available, and implementing the various clinical techniques
• Reviewing the current concepts around the use of posts and cores, and understanding strategies leading to internal structural reinforcement of endodontically treated teeth
• Undertaking practical exercises including;
  — conservative restoration of the endodontically treated tooth,
  — reinforcing and restoring the compromised posterior tooth,
  — direct construction of a fibre reinforced composite resin bridge
• Evaluating clinical outcomes and maintenance of restorations

Speaker: Professor Ian Meyers

OAM, BDSc, FRACDS, FICD, FADI, FPFA

Professor Ian Meyers is a general dental practitioner in Brisbane, Australia and is an honorary professor at The University of Queensland School of Dentistry. Professor Meyers has over thirty five years of combined experience in dental research, clinical dentistry, private practice, university clinics and hospital based dental clinics. He is a Fellow and Board Member of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and of the International College of Dentists, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He has served on numerous ADA national committees and is a long standing member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Australian Dental Journal. In 2017 he received the Order of Australia Medal for services to dentistry, to professional associations, and to tertiary education.

Among his previous positions Professor Meyers has been the Colgate Chair of General Practice Dentistry at The University of Queensland, the Chief Dental Officer for Queensland Health, and President and CEO of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Dental Association.

As a general dental practitioner, Ian Meyers has extensive experience in comprehensive patient care, and has a special interest in diagnosis and management of worn and broken down dentition, geriatric and aged care dentistry, adhesive restorative dental materials, fibre-reinforced composites, and the management of patients through minimum intervention dentistry. Ian lectures both nationally and internationally on these topics, and is a consultant to a number of dental companies.