The Basic ALF Lab Course

LAB : Learning About the Basics

One of the most rewarding aspects of ALF Therapy is the provider's ability to completely customize the appliance designs based on the needs of the patient and modify as treatment progresses.

One of the most challenging aspects of ALF Therapy is the provider's need to able to support the occasional repair or mid-treatment modification without depending on the dental lab to support patient care without lengthy interruptions of waiting for repairs to be completed at the lab.

In order to meet the growing needs of our ALF Therapy community, we are creating a course designed both for the dental laboratory technician and dental provider who is interested in learning how to make, modify and repair some of the most basic ALF appliance designs.

Course Details

LAB ALF: Learning About the Basics

Course objectives:

Overview of the basic designs of the different components of the ALF family of appliances including: Pedo Double Cribbed ALF, Wavey wire designs, Pedo Class 3 designs, ALF for development, ALF for Trauma release, Stealth ALF, ALF NLA and Nordic Positioner.

Hands-on instruction will be provided on the most frequently occurring alf designs, repairs and mid-treatment modifications requested from ALF Therapy providers.

Fabrication of the "wireless" appliances of the ALF Therapy family will be instructed by Dr. Angie Tenholder (NeoNatal ALF, ALF NLA and Nordic Positioner)

In order to ensure that each participant has access to the instructors and lab equipment, this course size is limited to 10 providers/technicians.

Course details:

Time: Friday June 16th 9am-5pm and Saturday June 17th from 8am-1pm

Location: 1000 Eleven South Suite 3F Columbia, Il (St. Louis, MO metropolitan area)

Instructors : Dr. Darick Nordstrom, Dr. Angie Tenholder and Ms. Karol Quiroga

Tuition: $1500 doctors/and lab technicians & $950 for dental assistants accompanying their doctor

Course tuition includes:

Day 1 lunch as well as snacks/beverages for both days
Access to online resources including appliance design sheets, lab slips, video resources. lab supply list as well as mentoring opportunities from instructors
Basic lab supply materials needed to repair and modify the appliances taught during the course

FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MLF ALF FABRICATION YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY AFTER THE CLASS ON SATURDAY. DR NORDSTROM WILL BE REMOTING IN AT 1:30CST TO SHOW THIS. THIS IS OPTIONAL FOR ATTENDANCE BUT IF YOU PLAN ON STAYING FOR THIS PART PLEASE LET JAMIE KNOW IN ADVANCE. THERE IS AN ADD ON FEE OF $400 FOR THE AFTERNOON.

To register please contact us at Jamie@theSynergy.Academy or at 618.281.9739

ALF LAB Course Agenda

Day 1 – June 16

Session 1: 9am-10:30am

Introduction to concepts and designs

Review of NLA and Nordic positioner designs, materials modifications and indications
Standalone use and design for use in conjunction with the wire-based appliances

Session 2: 11:00 am-12:30pm

Wire characteristics and designs

Why elgiloy has been chosen for ALF appliances (yellow/blue/green)
Body wire design considerations and indications
Omega loop/wobble bend location, shape and size
Wire size and alloy for each design
Soldering basics
Silver vs gold solder
Flux options
Flame vs electro soldering
Plier selection and wire bending basics for fabrication (not activation)
Options for retentive cribbing, crescents and bands
Indications and design considerations for tooth specific auxiliaries
Omega extensions to 6’s and 7’s
Finger springs for individual tooth movement/space consolidation

Session 3 : - 1:30 pm-3:pm

Auxiliary designs

Omni additions
Materials
Essix (040/060/other?)
Acrylic
Bond aligner
Anterior bite planes
Occlusal coverage

Maxillary designs

Mandibular designs

Class 3 “tandem” wires (Pedo class 3 options, t wire, etc.)

Wire size related to age and indications

Tooth specific options regarding design and adjustment

Session 4: 3:30 pm-5pm

Hands on wire bending, ALF appliance modifications and repairs

Omega extensions
Adding omni coverage (blockout, trimming, Bond Aligner)
Adding hooks spinner beads, lip bumpers and tongue toys
Auxiliaries for individual tooth movement

Appliance breakage and repair

Body wire
Crib/band
Omni repairs

Anterior bite planes and lip bumpers

Day 2 – June 17

Session 1: 8am - 10 am

Soldering skills workshop

Session 2: 10:30 am-12:30pm

Advanced designs

ALF tb
Omni 3
ALF aligners
TAD assisted designs and auxiliaries
Other designs and modifications

Session 3 & 4: 1:30 pm-5pm

The MLF appliance design and fabrication