Arizona AGD State Meeting 2025

November 8, 2025 2:30 PM - November 9, 2025 12:00 AM (GMT)

The Arizona AGD State Meeting brings together local dentists for an engaging day of learning and networking. Attendees will hear from expert speakers on a variety of crucial topics relevant to dental practice, professional growth, and patient care. This event offers valuable insights and opportunities to connect with peers across the state.

November 8, 2025

From 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Held in Scottsdale, AZ

Earn up to 8 CE

Breakfast and lunch will be provided

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Attendees will choose and attend 4 courses from the following list of lecture topics:

Occlusion From the Perio and Prosth Perspective with Clark Chen DMD

Speaker bio: Dr. Clark Chen grew up in Northern California and attended the University of California, San Diego where he received his Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering. He then moved to Arizona to receive his dental training at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH). Upon graduation, he completed a 3-year residency in prosthodontics at the University of California, San Francisco. He returned back to Arizona to serve as full time faculty at his alma mater (ASDOH) in the prosthodontic department. During his time as faculty, he developed the desire to seek further training in surgery and was accepted to the periodontics residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. After completion of the perio residency, Dr. Chen again found his way back to Arizona where he splits his time in private practice and teaching at ASDOH.

Course description: Occlusion plays a critical role in both periodontal health and prosthodontic rehabilitation. This lecture explores the dynamic relationship between occlusion and the supporting periodontium, emphasizing how a clear understanding of occlusal principles is essential in treatment planning and long-term stability. Topics include the concept of mutually protected occlusion and its relevance to maintaining periodontal integrity, the diagnosis and management of occlusal trauma, and the interplay between periodontitis and occlusal forces. Practical clinical considerations and case-based discussions will guide participants in integrating occlusal principles into comprehensive patient care.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the principles of mutually protected occlusion and their relevance to maintaining periodontal health and prosthodontic longevity.
2. Identify the signs and clinical implications of occlusal trauma in patients with and without periodontitis.
3. Evaluate how occlusal forces interact with periodontal disease progression and stability.
4. Apply occlusal considerations in treatment planning to achieve both functional stability and long-term periodontal support.

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How Can I Safely Implement Oral Sedation In My Practice? with Lonnie C. Eckman, BSN, DMD

Speaker bio: Doctor Eckman’s diverse medical career has spanned over 35 years and has encompassed

working in Home Health, Adolescent Psychiatry, Combat Army Medic, Pediatric Nursing, Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, and Dentistry. Currently, as a General Dentist, he provides sedation dentistry which includes IV sedation. His family includes Thor, an ASU senior majoring in Mathematics and Chemistry and Krew, a high school senior with a love of technology. He has also had the pleasure of being married to Vanessa for over 34 years.

Course description: By attending this course, you will have a better understanding of the requirements to provide sedation under a 1302 permit in Arizona. Training, medication, and equipment requirements will be discussed along with an understanding of different sedation levels. Understanding your scope of practice, whether you sedate patients or not, is essential to patient safety.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Participants will learn the different permit and sedation levels for dentists in Arizona
• Participants will understand what is required to earn and practice under a 1303 permit in Arizona
• Participants will have an introduction to different medications that can be used for oral sedation
• Participants will be exposed to the equipment and medications required to have a 1303 permit

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Prosthetically Driven Implant Dentistry: Planning Successful, Predictable Single-Unit and Bridge Restorations with Leila Zadeh, DMD, FAGD

Speaker bio: Dr. Leila Zadeh is an advanced restorative dentist and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD). She has completed all requirements for her Mastership with the Academy of General Dentistry (pending ceremony). A dedicated teacher, she is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the NYU Langone Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) post-doctoral program at St. Vincent DePaul's dental clinic, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH). She is also Visiting Faculty at Spear Education, where she also creates educational content. Additionally, she teaches live prosthodontic continuing education courses with DigitalDDS, specializing in AOX workflows, implants, and Computer Assisted Design (CAD) using softwares including Exocad, Meshmixer, and BlueSky Bio. She was previously an Assistant Professor at the NYU Langone AEGD post-doctoral program at ASDOH's Advanced Care Clinic and Clinical Faculty at District Medical Group dental clinic in Phoenix, which she helped set up and where she treated medically complex cases. Dr. Zadeh is a Board Member and Chair of Continuing Education of the AzAGD. She is a member of OKU and PBK honor societies, the recipient of the 2024 AGD "10 Under 10" Award for the nation's Top Ten Young Dentists, and the co-founder of the Phoenix Dental Study Club.

Course description: Dental implants are a useful and increasingly popular treatment option to help the over 120 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth.1 Before diving into these cases, however, it is crucial to 1) identify when implant treatment would be appropriate so we can minimize risk, and 2) recognize the importance of planning from the final prosthesis and essentially working backwards. This is the idea behind all prosthetically driven treatment planning, and because there is no purpose to implants that cannot successfully support, stabilize, or retain some sort of prosthetic, all who place implants should abide by this philosophy as well.

During this course, attendees will learn how to improve consistency, predictability, and success with implant crowns and bridges by better understanding how to best treatment plan for these cases. We will also discuss how these implant prostheses compare to other restorative options to save teeth, and how prosthetically driven treatment planning and digital tools can help us better achieve quality, esthetic implant restorations.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand how to approach and treat various medical and anatomic presentations to maximize positive implant crown and bridge outcomes.
• Learn what ideal implant crown and bridge restorations should look like and how to best achieve them.
• Improve implant planning for crown and bridge cases, and have an appreciation for which surgical and/or prosthetic techniques can optimize success.
• Learn how to minimize risk for possible surgical and/or prosthetic complications.

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Basics of Botox with Mai-Ly Duong, DMD, MPH, MAEd, MAGD

Speaker bio: Mai-Ly (My-Lee) received her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and Masters in Public Health (MPH) from A.T. Still University. She serves as a full-time Associate Professor and Director of Special Care Dentistry at the A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health in The Center for Advanced Oral Health. She works to support students, residents, and faculty treating individuals with special needs and complex medical conditions. She also works as a part-time associate dentist at Sundance Dental Care. Dr. Mai-Ly completed a certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry from NYU Langone Medical Center. Additionally, she completed a Masters in Education (MAEd) with a dental emphasis from the University of the Pacific in 2016. Her many accomplishments and contributions to the dental profession has earned her recognition as a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), Fellowship in the Special Care Dentistry Association (FSCD), Fellowship in the American College of Dentists (FACD), Fellowship in the International College of Dentists (FICD), and Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA).

Course description: Botulinum toxin, widely recognized under the trade name Botox, has revolutionized not only cosmetic procedures but also the world of dentistry. While plastic surgeons often get credit for facial enhancements, today, an increasing number of dental professionals are turning to Botox to enhance patient outcomes—from alleviating pain to improving facial esthetics. As the dental industry evolves, Botox dentists are becoming key providers of both therapeutic uses and cosmetic treatment, offering patients convenient, in-office solutions for common issues like TMJ disorders, bruxism, and facial wrinkles. This course will introduce and review basics of Botulinum Toxin Type A, its role in dentistry, and how it can be implemented into the dental practice.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• To obtain the basic foundation of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA)
• To discuss the benefits of BoNTA in the dental practice
• To review the next steps to integrating it into the dental practice

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Stay Ahead of the Curve in Endodontics! with Mark A. Kerr, DDS

Speaker bio: Dr. Mark Kerr was born and raised in Phoenix. He is a Board Certified Endodontist and educator. He is one of only 25% of endodontists to complete the certification process. He teaches and oversees the endodontic curriculum and endodontic care in the AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) program at AT Still – ASDOH. He currently serves as President of the Arizona Endodontic Association.

Course description: This continuing education course provides general dentists with a review of recent trends in endodontics, emphasizing practical updates for everyday clinical practice. Participants will explore advances in diagnostic imaging, rotary and reciprocating instrumentation systems, bioceramic sealers, irrigation activation techniques, and minimally invasive access designs, and more!

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• To discuss emerging technologies such as 3D-printed guides, regenerative endodontic procedures, and CBCT-guided treatment planning
• To review evidence-based strategies and materials knowledge to enhance outcomes and efficiency in root canal therapy
• To explore preventive strategies to for common mistakes in endodontics

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A Systematic Approach to Dental Trauma Management with Kyla Hollen, DMD, MPH

Speaker bio: Dr. Kyla Hollen completed her dental degree at the A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and also earned Master’s in Public Health from A.T. Still University while serving in the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program. She moved to Tucson, Arizona to complete her pediatric dental residency program through NYU-Lutheran and decided to make Tucson her permanent home. She opened her private pediatric dental practice, Southwest Kids Dentistry, in 2015. In her spare time, Dr. Hollen enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her two daughters.

Course description: This course will cover utilizing a systematic approach to dental trauma from patient intake, comprehensive evaluation, initial management, and recognizing indications for referral and/or coordinating with a medical team.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a systematic approach to intake and evaluation of oral trauma
• Create an organized, systematized method to examination of oral trauma and documentation
• Review basic management of both soft tissue and hard tissue injuries affecting primary and permanent dentition
• Recognize and classify injury as either urgent or emergent and recognize timely need for timely referral
• A discussion of coordinated trauma management and when medical attention is given top priority

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The Integration of AI and Digital Dentistry: Opportunities and Challenges with Ahmed Mahrous, BDS, MS, FACP

Speaker bio: Dr. Ahmed Mahrous is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist with a focus on digital dentistry. He

serves as an Associate Professor and Director of CAD/CAM Dentistry at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health and is the owner of Flossophy Dental in Chandler, Arizona. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Iowa. Dr. Mahrous earned his BDS from Pharos University and advanced degrees from the University of Iowa, including a Certificate in Advanced Prosthodontics and a Master’s in Oral Science. He became a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics in 2023. He is the author of the upcoming 14th edition of McCracken’s Removable Partial Prosthodontics and has published multiple peer-reviewed articles. Throughout his career, Dr. Mahrous has received several awards, including the Junior Educator of the Year Award by the American College of Prosthodontists, and has held leadership roles in organizations such as ADEA and ACP. His projects, including the Dental Atlas and AiDental RPD Designer, integrate advanced technology into dental education. His research, supported by grants from ATSU and other organizations, focuses on artificial intelligence and digital innovations in dentistry. Dr. Mahrous is dedicated to mentoring students and advancing both dental education and clinical practice.

Course description: This course explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital dentistry on contemporary dental practice. Participants will gain insights into how AI technologies are reshaping diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care. The lecture will also cover digital tools such as CAD/CAM systems and AIDental for removable partial dentures (RPD), highlighting their benefits, limitations, and practical considerations.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental principles of AI in dentistry and its applications.
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of integrating AI into dental practice.
• Explore the role of digital dentistry tools, including CAD/CAM and AIDental, in the fabrication of RPDs.
• Identify practical considerations and best practices for implementing AI and digital technologies in clinical settings.

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Transitional Bonding techniques in treating complex multidisciplinary wear cases with Nathan J Saydyk, DDS, FAGD

Speaker bio: Dr. Saydyk began his medical career serving as a medic in the US Navy. At Bremerton Naval Hospital, he worked as the enlisted manager of the Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Care Unit. After gaining experience in other fields, including crop physiology and engineering, he found his calling in dentistry. Today, Dr. Saydyk loves the ability to work with his hands while cultivating close relationships with his patients every day.  Dr. Saydyk graduated from Utah State University and the top-rated Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry and has been practicing as a general dentist in Gilbert since 2006. He is committed to providing the most advanced dental care available to his patients and continuously pursues additional education and training opportunities to stay up to date with the latest advances in dentistry. In 2023, he achieved a Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry.  His most recent training includes the topics of full-mouth rehabilitation, complex case planning, implant dentistry, and oral conscious sedation. He has been a presenter at the Arizona Academy of General Dentistry annual meeting and the Arizona Sleep Society on the topic of sleep apnea treatment.

Course description: Dr. Saydyk will discuss the diagnosis and treatment planning of wear cases and demonstrate the use of transitional bonding in order to make these cases more predictable and easier to sequence treatment.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify wear cases that can benefit from transitional bonding
• Basic smile design principles
• Analog and digital wax ups
• Different ways to perform transitional bonding on posterior and anterior teeth

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Photography and Videography Policy:

By registering and attending this event you are giving permission to be in a photograph/video of the event unless you ask not to.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations made more than 30 days before the start of the course - full refund (minus 5% processing fees)

Cancellations made between 15-30 days before the start of the course - 50% refund (minus 5% processing fees)

Cancellations made 14 or less days of the start of the course - no refund

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