Women in Dentistry - Women-in-dentistry-spear-retreat-2026

9:30am-10:30am

Implant Woes: Managing Restorative Implant Complications

Dr. Varisha Parikh

Description:
This lecture is designed to empower implant dentists with the knowledge and tools to manage and service complexities related to implant restorations. Although we like to consider our implant restorations to be infallible, there are actually many points in the biomechanical system of an implant prosthesis at which failure can occur. Restorative complications can present themselves in simple single unit implant restorations to more complex full arch situations. This course will cover diagnosis and assessment of complications at each level of the implant complex - fixture, screw, abutment, crown.

Three learning objectives:

• Identify common restorative implant complications and understand their underlying causes.
• Develop a systematic approach for assessing and diagnosing restorative implant complications in a timely and accurate manner.
• Implement practical strategies for treating restorative implant complications and managing patient expectations.

Dr. Varisha Parikh

Dr. Varisha Parikh is a private practice prosthodontist in Los Angeles, California. She completed her degree in dental medicine at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and obtained her specialty training in Prosthodontics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her practice primarily focuses on utilizing digital technology for complex rehabilitation cases. She enjoys sharing her clinical expertise and experience with colleagues as a speaker on the topics of digital technology, implant fixed and removable prosthodontics, and practice development.

11:00am-12:00pm

Women at the Helm: Grow It, Guard It, Give It

Brittany Frazier

Attendees will leave with a practical framework to Grow It (build personal and practice wealth through cash-flow clarity and values-based goals), Guard It (protect what you’ve built with proactive tax planning, risk management, and an asset-protection mindset), and Give It (plan intentionally for family priorities and philanthropic legacy). Expect actionable guidance, real-world considerations specific to dental careers, and next steps you can implement immediately.

Sponsored by

Brittany Frazier

Brittany is an alumna of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Science in accounting.

Her career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City before moving to their Dallas office. There, as a senior associate, she worked extensively in tax compliance and consulting services in both the financial and private-company service industries. She joined the CWA team in 2013.

“The most rewarding aspect of what I do is that I can help clients feel secure in their financial future. Along the way, the invaluable relationships I create with clients makes it easy to guide them on their path toward achieving their personal, financial, and professional goals.” Brittany is a Certified Public Accountant and an Investment Advisor Representative. In addition to her role as a financial planner, she has donated her time for 10 years with the 3to1 Foundation, helping educate DISD students and the community on financial literacy topics, presenting her topics both in English and in Spanish. She’s passionate about empowering others to make smart financial decisions for themselves and making financial education accessible to everyone in the community.

Brittany founded the CWA Women in Financial Planning group, which has coordinated mentorship programs as well as productive meetings to discuss big ideas and offer support to the firm’s female advisors. In addition to her work at CWA, Brittany sits on two boards in Dallas. She joined the board for The Family Place and the SMU Cox School of Business Alumni Board.

In her spare time, she enjoys snow skiing and SoulCycle, as well as singing and musical theatre. She and her husband, James, have three young children.

12:00pm-1:00pm

Orthodontic Aligners For Your Everyday Practice

Session Details

2:00pm-3:00pm

Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry: Policy, Evidence, and the Future of Dental Education and Practice

Dr. Natalia Chalmers

Description:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is shifting from an optional add-on to a core element of dental practice. This session explores five dimensions of AI adoption: evidence, regulation and policy, education, efficiency, and patient-centered care. It unpacks the meaning of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for dental AI companies, which must meet rigorous performance and risk-assessment criteria, demonstrate clinical validation, secure pre-market approval, and adhere to continuous post-market surveillance. The session also shows how AI-generated population data can reveal previously invisible patterns in oral health disease burden and scores, as well as disease progression. AI is already being integrated into dental curricula to enhance procedural accuracy and personalized feedback, calibrating students for technology-enabled practice. Early academic adopters report measurable efficiency gains—consistent diagnostics, streamlined documentation, and improved case acceptance through visual communication. At its core, AI supports a more patient-centered approach. Color-coded overlays transform radiographs into images that parents can understand, strengthening provider-patient trust. AI-enabled oral health scores can further empower families with actionable prevention insights and transparent records that build trust. By engaging with these tools now, dentists can position their practices for sustainable success in an AI-enabled dental landscape.

Objectives:

• Explain the FDA clearance process for dental AI, including performance and risk-assessment criteria, clinical validation, pre-market approval, and post-market surveillance.
• Describe how AI-generated patient-level data can contribute to the evidence base for dentistry by revealing patterns in disease burden, oral health score, and disease progression.
• Identify how AI is being integrated into dental education curricula to enhance procedural accuracy and provide personalized feedback for students.
• Evaluate the practice-efficiency benefits of AI adoption, such as consistent diagnostics, streamlined documentation, and improved case acceptance through visual communication.
• Apply AI-powered visualization tools—such as color-coded overlays—to enhance shared decision-making with parents and build trust through transparent, easily understood radiographic findings.
• Develop a strategic framework for technology adoption in your practice that balances evidence, efficiency, and patient-centered care, positioning your practice for long-term success in an AI-enabled dental landscape.

Sponsored by

Dr. Natalia Chalmers, DDS, MHSc, PhD

Visionary Oral Health Executive | Policy Leader | Healthcare Innovator

Dr. Natalia Chalmers is a board-certified pediatric dentist and 2025 AAPD Pediatric Dentist of the Year, oral health policy expert, and public health advocate bringing over 20 years of clinical, research, and regulatory experience to the forefront of dental innovation. As the Chief Dental Officer and Head of Clinical Innovation at Overjet, she leverages data-driven insights to transform dental healthcare delivery and ensure access to high-quality, patient-centered care.

Previously, Dr. Chalmers made history as the first Chief Dental Officer in the Office of the Administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There, she led groundbreaking initiatives to expand dental coverage, established the first CMS dental claims processing system, and implemented new quality measurements that reshaped the national conversation on oral health. Her public sector leadership also includes tenure as a Dental Officer at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A recognized expert in clinical analytics, Dr. Chalmers is dedicated to advocating for the role of health policy across the lifespan—viewing dental well-being as intrinsic to whole-person care.

Dr. Chalmers completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the Medical University of Sofia, a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, and a Ph.D. in oral microbiology from the Graduate Partnerships Program of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, Post-doctoral Fellowship at the ADA Forsyth Institute, and Clinical Research Fellowship at the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chalmers holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Research from Duke Medical University and a Certificate in Drug Development and Regulatory Science from the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy.

3:00pm-4:00pm

Catapult your Restorative Workflow and Aesthetic Cases with the Power of Digital Design

Dr. Joyce Bassett

Description:
This course will outline in detail the steps necessary to digitally take a case from data collection through design, using in-house CAD software. It will also demonstrate the steps necessary to perform a chairside evaluation of the digital mockup and how to use composite to make any needed corrections to enhance the prototypes, adjacent natural teeth and create aesthetics that are BUILT TO LAST.

Objectives:

• Attendees learn systematic techniques, utilizing digitally generated designs, based upon esthetic and functional principles.
• Learn how to evaluate the digital mockup in the analog world, chairside, and use composite to enhance the outcome.
• This approach expedites important decisions, provide unique patient communication options, and improve the predictability of the aesthetic outcome.

Sponsored by

Dr. Joyce Bassett

Joyce Bassett, DDS, FAACD, FAGD, practices comprehensive restorative and aesthetic dentistry in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is an Accredited Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and President 2015-2016. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry, an Associate member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, a KOIS Clinical Instructor, an active member in the Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, and a Fellow in the AGD. Dr. Bassett also has served as adjunct faculty, teaching the aesthetic continuum at the Arizona School of Dentistry. She was voted one of the top five female CE educators in America. Dr Bassett is an international lecturer, published author, and member of the editorial board of several peer-reviewed publications. She is a recipient of the Lucy Hobbs award for Clinical Expertise, the AACD Evy Award for Excellence in Teaching Cosmetic Dentistry Education, the Volunteer Dentist of the Year award for Arizona CASS dental clinic, and she has received the Give Back a Smile volunteer service award twice.

4:00pm-5:00pm

Panel Discussion: Is Work-Life Balance Real? Let’s Talk About It

Panel Discussion