Cases with Faces…A Lifetime of Patient Stories Communication, Case Planning & Occlusion for Everyday Practice
A full-day interactive program with Dr. Michael Melkers
Every restoration has a patient behind it. Every patient brings a story, expectations, and circumstances that shape what care is possible—and what success means to them. Drawing on 32 years of clinical practice and teaching experience across five continents, Dr. Michael Melkers shares lessons that continue to shape how he listens, plans, and provides care.
His journey through diverse practice environments has reinforced one constant: successful dentistry connects sound clinical principles with the person receiving care. Through actual patient stories, this program brings communication, case planning, and occlusion together—from single-tooth restorations to full-mouth and multidisciplinary care.
Cases explore the decisions, compromises, successes, and setbacks that inform treatment, including what Dr. Melkers might approach differently today. Clinicians at every career stage will find practical approaches to strengthen patient conversations, evaluate risk, and develop thoughtful plans of care.
Morning:
Understanding the Person, Evaluating the Possibilities • Patient goals, expectations, and conversations that guide care. • Five critical aspects of form and function. • Failure patterns, parafunctional risks, and mitigation. • Efficient occlusal evaluation and considerations for adjustment. • Simplified smile design, from analog to digital.
Afternoon:
Cases with Faces—Putting Principles into Practice
• Single-tooth, quadrant, full-mouth, and multidisciplinary cases.
• Treatment options and sequencing that reflect patient circumstances.
• Clear recommendations that support informed choice
. • Lessons from outcomes, complications, and follow-up.
Learning Objectives Participants will learn to:
• Connect patient goals with clinical findings and recommendations.
• Apply principles of form and function to everyday restorative care.
• Recognize and manage risks to restorative longevity. • Integrate aesthetic, functional, and patient considerations into case planning.
• Communicate options with clarity, confidence, and respect for patient choice.
Dr. Melkers is in private practice in Hanover, NH but impacts students, clinicians and patients worldwide Dr. Melkers is a 1994 graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry & currently serves as Visiting Faculty at Riga Stradinš University in Riga, Latvia & as Advisor and Visiting Faculty for The Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Dr. Melkers is a Fellow & Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and holds additional Fellowships in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American College of Dentists. He maintains a private clinical practice in Hanover, NH with a focus on comprehensive adult restorative care. Dr. Melkers balances his professional time between clinical practice, teaching, publishing and research. Previously, he has been Director of Occlusion & Aesthetic Dentistry at the Pacific Northwest AEGD Residency Program and Visiting Faculty at The Spear Institute. He is the current President-Elect (at time of the program) of the American Equilibration Society and received the 2018 AES President’s Distinguished Service Award for his service. He has been involved with the Academy of General Dentistry at a local, state and national level for his entire career
Dr. Melkers Seminars info@MichaelMelkers.com mobile 509.868.7790 www.MichaelMelkers.com His mission is to help students, teams and clinicians realize what is possible and improve the level of patient care, worldwide. CV available upon request. Expanded biographical and background information can be found on www.MichaelMelkers.com
COURSE FEE
INR 25000 INCLUDING 18% GST