General Membership Meeting: Minimally Invasive Rehabilitation - A Healthier, Less Costly and More Predictable Approach
2026-09-10 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hybrid, 1485 Park Ave., San Jose, CA, 95126, United States
Every practice has 5% to 15% of patients who have severely damaged their dentition and would benefit from a mouth rehabilitation but cannot afford it, and we see them suffer and deteriorate feeling helpless. Additionally, a larger number of our patients would greatly benefit by opening their Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO) to restore their worn-out dentition. They need help! The old approach of a mouth full of crowns is destructive, with many negative side effects and unpredictable. In this practical lecture Dr. Ruiz will offer a more real world approach to treating these patients using direct composite, partial coverage adhesive restorations and limited implants. Even partial mouth rehabilitation cases are like remodeling a beautiful building, meticulous designed and diagnosis must be done before the first scoop of dirt is ever removed, (or before a hand piece touches the tooth). This fast paced course will cover proper diagnosis to avoid problems, step by step techniques for partial and full mouth rehabilitation, as well as research and many clinical cases.
Objectives:
• Learn a practical technique to treat larges cases in multiple stages, making it affordable to almost every patient.
• Proper methodic diagnosis for this type cases, which will maximize success, satisfaction and minimize complications.
• Learning techniques for proper adhesion of bonded rehabilitations.
• Understand how to record patients’ unique esthetic perspective and goals and how to blend it with our own.
• How to implement occlusal treatment into an overall oral treatment.
• When to use a semi-adjustable articulator and why it has great importance.
• When to use a CR bite.
• Step by step techniques, and much, much more…
Biography:
Dr. Ruiz is Founder of the “Supra-gingival Minimally Invasive Dentistry” movement, as well as founder and director of the Los Angeles Institute of Clinical Dentistry. Former Course Director of numerous CE Courses at the University of Southern California (USC). He is an Honorary Clinical Professor at Warwick University in England and a member of the editorial board for Dentistry Today. He is also an Associate Instructor at Dr. Gordon Christensen PCC in Utah & an independent evaluator of dental products for CR (CRA). Dr Ruiz has been named as one of the “Leaders in CE 2006-Present” by Dentistry Today. Dr. Ruiz is the author of the textbook “Supra-gingival Minimally Invasive Dentistry; A Healthier Approach” published by Wiley-Blackwell and edited by Dr. Ray Bertolotti and has also published several research papers as well as many clinical articles on adhesive dentistry, occlusion and esthetic dentistry. He regularly lectures at all major dental meetings, nationally and internationally. Dr. Ruiz has been practicing in the studio district of Los Angeles for over 25 years and enjoys a clientele of many stars and entertainers. His focus is on treating complex Cosmetic, Rehabilitation, and Implant cases. Dr. Ruiz has made numerous television appearances highlighting his Esthetic Dental makeovers, including NBC Channel 4 News, ABC’s News, Good Morning America & Vista La, VH1 and Channel 52’s Telemundo and 34 Univision.

Mandatory Annual Workplace Violence Prevention Training
2026-10-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Via Zoom
NEW BENEFIT! FREE FOR MEMBER DENTISTS!
Each year, an average of nearly 2 million American workers report having been a victim of violence at work, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the number of annual workplace homicides at about 400. California now requires employers to have an “effective” program to prevent workplace violence in place by July 1, 2024; to include “Active Shooter Training” and to renew this training annually for all staff.
Join SCCDS and speaker Dr. Kriss Ghafourpour, who will share his expertise on this topic reviewing the most common nationally recognized calls for action in such situations. Dr. Ghafourpour comes to us with over 30 years of experience in the Emergency Medical Services, currently Training Sergeant for Virginia Beach EMS, member of the FBI InfraGard civilian task force, and a certified firearms instructor for the DOJ. This course will focus on your safety and how to be prepared and gain the skills needed to prevent, recognize, and increase your ability to survive during an active shooter incident. This course will provide details on what behaviors to look for and who to contact to prevent an active shooter incident. You will learn how to make educated life-saving decisions regarding which actions to take during an active shooter incident. You will also receive documents for setting up a response plan for your employee handbook, conducting drills, and appropriate first aid equipment to add to your office.
This course will cover:
Current Statistics and CA Senate Bill 533
Common active shooter behavior
When to report suspicious behavior
Active shooter trends
Recognize a threat and transition quickly to take action
Determine how to prepare yourself to escape, hide, and fight during an active shooter incident
What to do when law enforcement arrives
This course will be held online via Zoom. The link will be sent out 24 hours before the event.
Registration Options*
CDA Member Dentist (Free!)
Dental Staff/Auxiliary ($45.00)
Non CDA Member Dentist ($150.00)

General Membership Meeting: The Influence of Prosthetic Designs on Peri-implant Tissue Health
2026-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Hybrid, 1485 Park Ave., San Jose, CA, 95126, United States
There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of dental implants. Despite the effectiveness of dental implants, there have been an increasing number of patients presenting with peri-implant bone loss. While the etiologies of peri-implant bone loss are multifactorial, a growing body of evidence suggests substantial connections between the state of peri-implant health and the design characteristics of the implant suprastructures in the persistent presence of oral biofilm. Implant positioning and prosthetic designs have been suggested to play a significant role in influencing the peri-implant marginal bone level. Without an optimal strategy to manage these prosthetic designs and implant suprastructures, the risk of peri-implant bone loss may escalate, potentially leading to unfavorable outcomes like peri-implantitis.
By the completion of this course each participant should be able to:
1. Understand the principles of ideal implant positioning.
2. Recognize the influence of prosthetic designs on peri-implant health.
3. Analyze the relationship between implant positioning and compensatory prosthetic designs, highlighting the biological implications of non-ideal prosthetic designs on peri-implant soft and hard tissue stability.
Biography:
Dr. Guo-Hao (Alex) Lin, DDS, MS, is a Diplomate and examiner of the American Board of Periodontology (board certified periodontist) and an ITI Fellow. Currently he is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Postgraduate Periodontics Program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Lin is a recipient of several awards from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). He has published more than 90 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to several book chapters. His research focuses on evidence-based dentistry and implant-related clinical trials.

Mandatory Opioid Training for License Renewal
2026-10-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Via Zoom
2 Units of CE (Category 1)
THIS COURSE WILL BE HELD ONLINE VIA ZOOM – THE LINK WILL BE SENT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT
Pain management in dentistry is not just about filling cavities, it’s about ensuring patient comfort and safety. In this class, doctors will gain the skills to identify various pain management options and regulatory requirements for opioids. They will also learn to recognize signs of substance use disorders in patients and develop strategies to manage vulnerable situations. Join us and become a confident, compassionate provider of dental pain management!
THIS COURSE IS DENTAL BOARD APPROVED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL
Registration Options*
CDA Member Dentist (Free!)
Dental Staff/Auxiliary ($80.00)
Non CDA Member Dentist ($230.00)

Mandatory Annual CalOSHA Training
2026-10-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Via Zoom
THIS COURSE WILL BE HELD ONLINE VIA ZOOM – LINK WILL BE SENT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT
CalOSHA is complex and extensive. Compliance, especially in the healthcare industry, is important, and non-compliance can have far-reaching effects on an office. Make sure you and your staff have proof of annual training with our focused training
This Course will include:
Safety compliance with the latest Cal/OSHA updates.
Bloodborne Pathogen & Aerosol Transmissible Disease standard and hazard communication
An emergency action plan
The latest revision to the Hazard Communication Standard based on the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
Required training review and labeling standards
Registration Options*
SCCDS Member Dentist (FREE!)
Dental Staff/Auxiliary ($75.00)
Non CDA Member Dentist ($225.00)

General Membership Meeting: Dentistry 2.0: See Earlier, Treat Smarter, Restore Beautifully
2026-11-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Hybrid, 1485 Park Ave., San Jose, CA, 95126, United States
Today our patients would rather stay healthy than wait for disease, and luckily dentistry is shifting toward earlier detection, prevention-first care, and conservative aesthetic decisions. This lecture presents a practical “Dentistry 2.0” framework that connects visual detection to risk-based prevention and improved case acceptance. Learn how to integrate supportive periodontal and remineralization therapies into everyday workflows, then bridge prevention to conservative aesthetics. This presentation will be for the entire dental team.
Objectives:
By attending, participants will be able to:

Apply a Dentistry 2.0 clinical framework that links early detection, risk assessment, prevention, and conservative restorative decision-making.
Interpret clinical findings to identify early disease indicators (e.g., early demineralization/biofilm activity patterns) and determine appropriate next-step interventions.
Present risk in an empowering way using patient-friendly language that motivates action without fear, shame, or overwhelm.
Integrate non-invasive protocols into periodontal maintenance and prevention workflows, including how to position therapy and expectations to improve adherence.
Design a practical remineralization plan that aligns with risk level, compliance, and measurable follow-up.
Connect prevention to aesthetics by choosing more conservative pathways to improved aesthetics and see how the aesthetics wants are achieved.

Biography:
Michael A. Miyasaki, DDS is a Sacramento-based clinician, educator, and lecturer focused on modern, prevention-forward clinical systems that improve patient communication, case acceptance, and long-term outcomes. He teaches practical workflows that integrate early detection technologies, periodontal home-care protocols, and conservative restorative decision-making. Dr. Miyasaki lectures nationally and is involved in continuing education programs emphasizing diagnostics, minimally invasive dentistry, and predictable clinical execution for the general practitioner.

Mandatory Annual HIPAA Training
2026-11-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Via Zoom
THIS COURSE WILL BE HELD ONLINE VIA ZOOM – THE LINK WILL BE SENT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT
You will learn:
• Privacy Rule • Security Rule • Omnibus Rule • Penalties• Investigation triggers • Breaches • Business Associates • Technology risks & rewards • How to protect your practice
Find out what info is real and what rumors are fake in the HIPAA world and hear some real-world cases and fines that come with them. This is a must-hear lecture for any practice owner who is concerned with being compliant and wants to be “in the know”.
Registration Options*
SCCDS Member Dentist (FREE!)
Dental Staff/Auxiliary ($75.00)
Non CDA Member Dentist ($225.00)

Mandatory Harassment Prevention Training for EMPLOYEES and EMPLOYERS/MANAGERS
2026-11-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Online Via Zoom
NEW BENEFIT! FREE FOR MEMBER DENTISTS!
Since January 1, 2021, California businesses with five (5) or more employees MUST provide harassment prevention training every two (2) years. Employees are required to have 1 hour of training within six (6) months of hire. In this instructor-led session, attendees will engage in discussions on all forms of sexual harassment (verbal, visual, and physical). Other types of prohibited harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and abusive conduct will also be covered in an interactive format.
Attendees will learn how to recognize problems and their responsibility in the prevention of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and abusive conduct. Topics include reporting, bystander intervention as well as practical tips on how to stay out of trouble and keep the workplace harassment-free.
This course will be held online via Zoom. The link will be sent out 24 hours before the event.
Registration Options*
Member Dentist (Free)
Dental Staff/Auxiliary ($45.00)
Non CDA Member Dentist ($185.00)
