Past. Present. Future.
ALF: Evolution
ALF:Evolution is a hybrid course that has been designed on the lessons of the past, the benefits of the future and the promise of tomorrow.
We have learned that
- Doctors that received training more than 5 years ago or from an instructor other than Drs. Nordstrom and Tenholder may have not received the benefits of the most recent evolutions of ALF Therapy
- Providers are best able to understand new concepts by building on a foundation of what is familiar and comfortable with what is new and challenging to their paradigms and training.
- Most students of ALF Therapy are busy practitioners that value hands on and efficient learning modules that they can incorporate into their offices one step at a time
- ALF Therapy is simply sophisticated yet mostly misunderstood. The dynamic training developed by Dr. Angie Tenholder under the supervision of the creator of ALF Therapy, Dr. Darick Nordstrom provides the dental provider with the knowledge that they need to deliver the results associated with authentic ALF Therapy.
- There is a need for a course that supports both the doctor and their teams in the successful integration of ALF Therapy into their offices and communities
Course Design
A four hour pre-course ALF Immersion Webinar will allow the doctor and their team to learn the basics of ALF Therapy and introduce them to the tools that have been developed to support them as they begin their ALF Therapy journey.
A two day intensive hands-on course will instruct on the basics of being an ALF Therapy provider.
A two week access to the online library of pre-recorded content will be accessible for those who want to take a deeper dive into the vast amount of virtual information available to our ALF Therapy community.
ALF Evolution HOME Course
ALF: Evolution HOME Course Outline
Hands
On
Methods of
Execution
Day 1 AM: The Why Behind the Wires
1. Body wire
a. Design options
i. Anterior omega loop
ii. Posterior omega loops
iii. Wobble bends
iv. Blow out loops
v. Cuspid crescents
b. Basic adjustments and concepts
2. Retention
a. Crib wire
i. Gingival position
ii. Occlusal portion
iii. Traditional
iv. Stealth
b. Pliers meet wires
i. Bird beak
ii. Three prong
iii. Optical
iv. Wire cutters
c. Composite retentive ledges
i. Fuji 2 LC
ii. Composite (Epic/flowable)
3. Omni additions
a. Occlusal
b. Shelves
c. Anterior bite planes
4. Plug-ins
a. Wopat
b. Myomunchee
c. ALF Aligner
5. Basic soldering skills
a. Adding wires for individual tooth movement
b. Adding tubes and hooks
6. Adding essix/acrylic to elgiloy: Omni conversion/repair
Day 1 PM: Going Wireless
1. NLA fabrication and insertion
2. Nordic Positioner
a. Taking a construction bite
b. EVA fixation of upper and lower components initially and for titration
3. WOPAT
4. ALF accelerator
Day 2 AM: Clinical Evaluation
1. Oral functional assessment
a. Pain mapping
b. Oral neuromyofunctional assessment
i. Visual midline
ii. Cluck and suck (Cave)/Floor of Mouth lift asymmetry and elevation
2. Reflex assessment
a. Trigeminal
b. Primitive reflex
i. Starfish (Moro)
ii. Stop and look (ATNR)
3. Osteopathic assessment
a. Basic concepts
b. Designs related to patient phenotype
4. ALF adjustments based on assessments
a. Midline corrections
b. When to integrate and when to expand
i. Going slow until reflexes are integrated
ii. Active expansion once basic requirements are met
Day 2 PM: Mid-course corrections and repairs
1. Adding anterior bite planes
2. Adding omni coverage
3. Auxiliary wires
4. How to repair
a. Broken body wire
b. Crib modifications for mixed dentition
5. Combination care with wireless appliances
