Orthodontic Mentor - International Association for Orthodontics

About Orthodontic Mentor

Teaching and providing high-quality orthodontic education to general dentists is not new to us. It has always been our passion. Our course director, Dr. Mark Alarbi, is the past program director and clinical director for one of the largest accredited orthodontic residency programs in the country. He even created the course material that was used to teach hundreds of general dentists how to be some of the most successful and well-respected, board-certified orthodontists in the nation. He brings that same passion, material, and expertise to this course.

So, if the question is, “Can your courses actually help general dentists diagnose and deliver high-quality and predictable orthodontic treatment to patients?”, then the obvious answer is: Yes—it already has for hundreds of doctors!

64 CE Credits

These are not courses taught by general dentists or academics with little real-world practice experience. This continuum is taught by practicing orthodontists who have personally treated many thousands of patients and have developed highly efficient, predictable, and profitable treatment systems that they implement every day in their own multi-million dollar practices.

You can think of this course as a condensed orthodontic residency that distills all of the important and relevant diagnostic and clinical information techniques needed to treat a wide array of orthodontic cases using predictable, everyday clinical problem-solving.

Course Out Lines

Course 1

Orthodontic Terminology
Tooth anatomy and directions of tooth movement
Tooth numbering systems
Types of malocclusions
Types of tooth movement
Orthodontic treatment types
Types of anchorage
Orthodontic instruments and materials
Orthodontic appliances
Orthodontic bracket placement
Vertical, mesio-distal, and angular positioning
Orthodontic fixed appliances
Wire types, characteristics, and uses
Introduction to diagnosis and treatment planning
Basics of treatment mechanics

16 CE Credits

Course 2

Orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning
Skeletal diagnosis: sagittal, vertical, transverse
Dental diagnosis: sagittal, vertical, transverse
Soft tissues diagnosis
Cephalometric diagnosis: landmarks and analysis
Discrepancy index
Establishing treatment objectives
Treatment planning and treatment sequencing
Clinical mechanics and treatment sequences
Mechanics of CI I non-extraction treatment
Mechanics of CI I extraction treatment

16 CE Credits

Course 3

Treatment of Class II malocclusions
Diagnosis and treatment planning
Auxiliary appliance options
Mechanics of CIII non-extraction treatment
Mechanics of CI II extraction treatment
Mechanics of CI II division 2 treatment
Extensive analysis of case studies to illustrate concepts

16 CE Credits

Course 4

Treatment of Class III malocclusions
Diagnosis and treatment planning
Mechanics of CI III extraction treatment
Atypical and surgical treatments
Managing impacted teeth
Extensive analysis of case studies to illustrate concepts

16 CE Credits

Meet the Staff

Mark M. Alarbi, DDS, CECSMO, CAGS, ABO

Dr. Alarbi obtained his DDS degree from the University of Tishreen, Syria in 1996 where he also served as a part-time Assistant Professor. In 1997 Dr. Alarbi moved to Marseille, France to join a residency-based 4-year specialty program in Orthodontics and, in 2002, he received a Specialty Certification in Orthodontics and Dento-Facial Orthopedics (CECSMO) from the University of Aix-Marseille II.

In 2003 Dr. Alarbi was engaged in private practice in Marseille when he relocated to Jacksonville, Florida to join the Faculty team at Jacksonville University School of Orthodontics as Assistant Professor of Orthodontics and later Associate Professor of Orthodontics. He then obtained a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies in Orthodontics (CAGS) from JU in 2009 and later that year was appointed Clinical Director at the School of Orthodontics. In 2011, Dr. Alarbi obtained full certification from the American Board of Orthodontics and was appointed Associate Dean and Program Director of the Jacksonville University School of Orthodontics where he continued to serve till 2017. During his 14 years of tenure at Jacksonville University Dr. Alarbi was a recipient of multiple awards including: Academic Professor of the Year, Clinical Professor of the Year, Professor of the Year, Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in University Service Awards.

In 2018 Dr. Alarbi moved to San Antonio, Texas to join Celebrate Dental and Brace where he currently practices clinical orthodontics at 3 locations.
Dr. Alarbi is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Board of Orthodontics. He is a former member of the French Society of Dento-Facial Orthopedists and the French Society of Bioprogressive Orthodontics.

David Ferguson DDS, CAGS

Dr. Dave Ferguson D.D.S., C.A.G.S. studied psychology at Brigham Young University and later graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University College of dentistry. He practiced as a general dentist in a variety of settings with a particular interest in public health settings. He later enrolled in and graduated from Jacksonville University School of Orthodontics in 2009.

Dr. Ferguson started, grew, and managed multiple orthodontic practices in Kansas City, Dallas, and northern Colorado for a large dental group. He was an owner/operator in dental franchises in Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, and Colorado.
In 2011, Dr. Ferguson moved to San Antonio, Texas where he co-founded Celebrate Dental & Braces. He currently serves as Celebrate Dental & Braces President and CEO. Celebrate Dental & Braces is a 17-location multi-specialty, partner-owned DSO, with practices in San Antonio, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Albuquerque, and Austin.

Dr. Ferguson lectures and consults with large group practices and DSO’s on how to successfully implement and maximize the profitability of specialty services. With a passion for teaching, Dr. Ferguson founded the Celebrate Learning Institute, a 50-seat conference center dedicated to high- quality CE courses with the aim of fostering collaboration on best clinical and business practices in dentistry and medicine.
Dr. Ferguson and his wife, April, are the proud parents of seven children. He is a below-average arborist, recreational runner, cryptocurrency, and sports card enthusiast.

David Clayden DDS, MSD

Dr. David Clayden DDS, MSD attended Arizona State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Finance. He went on to study Dentistry at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in Denver, where he graduated as the top student in his class.

Following dental school he spent another 27 months in a specialty residency at the University of Colorado studying orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, and has practiced orthodontics since 2010. He is a founding partner of Celebrate Dental & Braces in New Mexico, where he operates the largest and most profitable orthodontic practice in the 17-practice group. He has also been instrumental in developing and implementing efficient practice and training systems across the group.

He and his wife Mandi are the parents of two boys and two girls. When he’s not busy creating beautiful smiles at Celebrate Dental & Braces, he enjoys music, mountain biking, photography, art, traveling, language learning, and most of all, spending time with his wife and children.