Register now for our Live Distance CE Program on June 26th.
Register here: https://apps.dentistry.uiowa.edu/CodCERegistration/Home/CELogin
Cost: $99
CE Credit Hours: 4
8:30am to 12:30pm
Course title: "Jurisprudence for the Dental Team"
Course Description:
This course will cover Iowa Jurisprudence information, including new updates in licensing requirements for registered dental assistants, along with what is required for unregistered dental assistants in Iowa. This course will meet the 1 hour requirement for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in their renewal of active dental licensure and registration in the state of Iowa.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the course, each participant should be familiar with the Iowa Administrative Code for Dental Professionals and the appropriate steps for obtaining and renewing licensure for the dental team, as well as understanding the new rules for unregistered dental assistants in the state of Iowa.
Speaker Bio:
Kari Maas, D.D.S., graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1998. Following graduation, she completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Iowa in 1999. For 14 years, Dr. Maas practiced general dentistry in the Cedar Rapids area. In 2015, Dr. Maas returned to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry to treat patients in Faculty General Practice. In addition to the treatment of patients in FGP, Dr. Maas began teaching third year dental students through the Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine department in the Oral Diagnosis Clinic in 2021. In July of 2025, Dr. Maas was named Director of Clinics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. In addition to her new role, she continues to treat patients in FGP and to teach D3 and D4 students in Oral Diagnosis and Admissions.
Course Title(s):
1. "Simplifying Alveolar Ridge Preservation – Open membrane technique"
2. "Probing in depth - Decision Making in the Diagnosis and Management of Periodontitis"
Course Description:
This is a two-part continuing education course designed to enhance clinical decision making in contemporary periodontal practice. The first part will focus on the use of the open membrane technique to simplify alveolar ridge preservation. This approach eliminates the need for primary closure and minimizes associated surgical morbidity. It also makes ridge preservation more accessible to clinicians with limited surgical training, helping preserve critical alveolar bone dimensions and reduce the need for complex future reconstructive procedures. This segment will review the clinical technique, available barrier membrane materials, and the scientific evidence supporting their use.
The second part of the course will review the 2017 AAP–EFP classification of periodontitis, with emphasis on its practical application and diagnostic nuances. Participants will be introduced to a standalone HTML-based diagnostic tool developed at the University of Iowa with the assistance of artificial intelligence, designed to reduce uncertainty and improve consistency in periodontal diagnosis. The course will conclude with a case-based discussion of periodontal treatment options, highlighting the clinical decision-making process involved in selecting appropriate therapy for individual patients.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this presentation, the participants should be able to:
• Describe the principles and clinical steps of the open membrane technique for alveolar ridge preservation.
• Compare and evaluate the advantages and limitations of open membrane–based ridge preservation relative to conventional techniques.
• Apply an evidence-based decision framework to select appropriate barrier membrane materials for open membrane ridge preservation procedures.
• Apply the 2017 AAP–EFP World Workshop classification system to accurately classify and stage periodontal disease in clinical scenarios.
• Utilize a digital periodontal diagnostic application (App) to determine periodontal diagnoses in a consistent and systematic manner.
• Formulate appropriate periodontal treatment plans by integrating diagnostic finding & initial therapy outcomes.
Speaker Bio:
Sivaraman Prakasam, B.D.S., M.S., PhD, is the Philip A. Lainson Associate Professor and Chair (DEO) of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He earned his Bachelor of Dental Science degree from Ragas Dental College and Hospital, followed by a PhD in Oral Biology and Pathology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He then completed his MSD and residency training in periodontology at Indiana University. Dr. Prakasam is an accomplished academician and clinician-scientist whose research has been supported by both NIH and industry funding. He has received several awards and honors, including the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Foundation Teaching Fellowship and the prestigious Balint Orban Clinical Research Award. His research program focuses on peptidoglycan recognition proteins as biomarkers for oral inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis. In addition to his basic science research, he actively conducts clinical research and has led two randomized clinical trials. Dr. Prakasam has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and several book chapters.