Increasing and stabilising vertical dimension of occlusion using direct composite restauration - Hands-on - 6th of Nov 2026 - Copenhagen

Increasing and stabilising vertical dimension of occlusion using direct composite restauration - Hands-on

The 1-day hands-on course is designed to train general practitioners and specialists in restoring the posterior and anterior teeth for patients with a loss of vertical occlusal dimension.

In the theoretical part, participants will learn daily clinical examination protocols as well as principles of functional and facial analysis. Centric relation registration protocols and the determination of the vertical dimension of occlusion will also be discussed.

Participants will learn how to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion using two approaches. In the first part of the course, they will restore occlusion with preheated composite, utilizing a wax-up and a transparent silicone guide. In the second part, they will apply the “layer it - stamp it” technique to achieve beautiful and polychromatic anterior restorations in easy and repeatable way.

Theory part:

• Classification and diagnosis of teeth wear.

• Practical tips and tricks how to recognize bruxing and bulimic patients in the daily praxis.

• Clinical examination protocol, functional analysis, diagnostics of normal function and TMJ dysfunction.

• Restorative treatment planning for the patient with the worn dentition.

• Soft tissue cephalometric analysis planning teeth position, torque and occlusal plane inclination.

• Importance of understanding maximal intercuspation and centric relation.

• Reliable centric relation registration using Jig methodic and Aqualizer

• Precise upper jaw position transferring to digital and analog articulator using true horizontal and vertical reference planes for asymmetric patients.

• Changing vertical dimension of occlusion:

  • a. When do we need to increase vertical dimension and when do we just stabilize occlusion?

  • b. How to determine correct vertical dimension?

  • c. When might the increase in vertical dimension be harmful?

• Wax up: digital vs analog

• Real life principles and rules for static and dynamic occlusion.

• Physical properties of dental composites: advantages and limitations

Hands-on and practical demo parts:

Building up occlusion with preheated composite using wax-up

• Wise wax-up and precise silicone guide for restoring occlusion with preheated packable or flow composite.

• Workflow of “28 teeth in one appointment” concept.

• Materials, instruments, tips and peculiarities building up occlusion with preheated composite using wax up.

• Practical demonstration: restoring posterior teeth with preheated composite using wax up.

Hands on:

The following issues will be trained on phantom models:

• Silicone guide adaptation and stabilization.

• Applying right amount of preheated composite in the silicone guide.

• Isolation using Teflon tape.

• Removing composite excess and polishing.

Practical demonstration & hands-on: “layer it – stamp it” technique for anterior teeth

The following issues will be trained on phantom models:

• Can we always rebuild anterior teeth with one shade and one opacity restorative approach?

• Simplified layering and internal staining method.

• Polishing of composite restorations during build up and during follow ups.

• Night guards after increasing vertical dimension of occlusion with composite.