Frank M. Spear, D.D.S., M.S.D.
CV / Bio
As the founder and director of Spear Education, Dr. Spear continues to be recognized as one of the premier educators in esthetic and restorative dentistry in the world today. Dr. Spear earned his dental degree from the University of Washington in 1979, and an MSD in periodontal prosthodontics in 1982, also from the University of Washington.
Dr. Spear has been recognized by numerous associations for his contributions to dentistry. In 1993, he was awarded the Christensen Award for Excellence in Restorative Education from the Chicago Dental Society. In 1995, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry presented him with a special award for having advanced the Art and Science of cosmetic dentistry in the United States. In 1996, he received the Saul Schluger Memorial Award for Excellence in Diagnosis and Treatment Planning from the Seattle Study Club. In 2003 he and colleague Vincent G. Kokich were awarded the first ever Presidents Award for excellence in education from the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. He also earned the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Pacific Lutheran University his undergraduate Alma Mater. And in 2013 was named Distinguished Alumnus for the University of Washington School of Dentistry. In 2018 he received the first ever Charles Pincus - Ronald Goldstein Lifetime Achievement Award in Esthetic Dentistry from the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. In 2019 he received the Distinguished lecturer award from the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics.
He belongs to multiple dental organizations including the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and the American College of Prosthodontics. He is also a past President of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.
Integrating minimally invasive concepts in Complex Treatment Plans
Synopsis: On a regular basis in practice, clinicians are faced with patient presentations that go beyond the simple decision of, does a tooth need a restoration or not? Those more difficult decisions often involve situations such as, an anterior tooth presents with a horizontal root fracture, should I retain it, or extract and place an implant, what do I need to look at to make an informed decision? Or upon your initial exam and radiographs you find teeth with significant apical root resorption, do you remove them and implant, or retain them, how do you decide? This presentation will focus on these kinds of dilemmas involving tooth retention and restoration, vs removal and replacement. The specific clinical dilemmas covered, in addition to the two listed above, will be whether to retain and restore or remove and replace teeth with advanced bone loss, and also ankylosed teeth. An algorithm of the key questions to ask in making a clinical decision will be presented as well.
Learning objectives: The attendees will learn
1) An algorithm of key questions to ask when deciding whether to retain and restore vs remove and replace.
2) What the literature states the long-term success rates are for the different conditions listed above.
3) How the age of the patient impacts the treatment decision of whether to retain and restore vs remove and replace, the concept of “Management vs Cure”.
4) The importance of looking forward to, “What is next”, and how that can impact the choice of what to do now.