CATEGORY 30 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST EV NTS Few lecture theatres in the world can boast an outlook like Andrea Shepperson’s. Spectacular yet tranquil, it immediately puts the visitor in a positive and relaxed frame of mind. Dr Shepperson opened her dental education centre on beautiful Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from Auckland city, in 2020, primarily targeting New Zealand and Australian clinicians. Despite the pandemic, Shepperson Education maintained its planned programme of sixmonth tooth-wear mentoring courses from the outset. The next one starts in April 2023. The course addresses the causes and management of tooth wear, often presenting multi-disciplinary challenges. Participants can be supported through treatment of their own patient, with the aid of many of Andrea’s case examples. The programme itself involves two weekends of in-person training on the island, plus regular webinars to supplement the information, and one-on-one mentoring every three weeks. Other shorter Shepperson Education courses are also in the pipeline, incorporating hands-on lectures and guest speakers. The next one is a two-and-aLearning in paradise Cutting-edge courses devised by Dr Andrea Shepperson, state-of-the-art new education centre, magical New Zealand setting – what’s not to like? By Peter Watt half day occlusion workshop in February 2023, with guest speakers on bruxism, orthodontics and TMD. A follow-up toothwear mentoring conference is also in the works, with the first one likely to be in April next year. Andrea has a referral practice focused on tooth wear, her primary clinical interest. A practicing dentist and self-confessed dental nerd with an insatiable curiosity, she is a globe-trotting speaker, and a mentor and alumni of the renowned Kois Center for dental training in Seattle, USA. Andrea has just sent her publishers a book called Managing Tooth Wear, packed with her own clinical cases. “I hope it will become a reference on tooth wear and digital technology,” she says. “It fills an important gap.” Shepperson Education is already being put to a wide range of uses, dental and nondental, and Andrea is putting no limits on dental topics that might be covered. The facility will soon have its own events manager, who will promote and facilitate courses and activities. Corporates and dental groups both in New Zealand and Australia have already been in discussions with Andrea about future events. The centre can host up to 24 hands-on participants, with outstanding audio and visuals, including a giant LED screen. The building is also selfcontained for catering. Andrea says Shepperson Education was created to provide and nurture big-picture thinking with the aim of better outcomes for patients. “My business model is to offer a flexible learning style encouraging that big picture thinking and being able to identify and troubleshoot before we start. That way dentistry becomes less risky, more predictable, and more fun. “For many dentists, tooth wear presents quite complex, multi-disciplinary challenges. We know wear is there but we don’t know how to decipher it – is it bruxism? Is it acid wear? And so on. We want to help the patient but we don’t know where to start. The programme helps in working sequentially with very good evidence-based systems – deciphering, planning then executing.” Shepperson Education is completely independent but Andrea gets strong industry-wide support. “Ivoclar Vivadent deserves specialmention though.They consistently champion continuing education and I am terribly grateful for their support.” Location is the key to the Shepperson Education facility.This beautifully designed centre is set in 10 acres of pristine bush chiming with native birdsong. It takes full advantage of a grand sea view with the city in the distance. The courses are structured to maximise the Waiheke experience, with opportunities to enjoy the island’s famous scenery, wine and food. Courses include all transfers, meals and ferry tickets, making it a seamless experience for attendees. u For more information on Shepperson Education and up-coming courses, go to www.andreashepperson.com
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