Sculpt - Practice Makes Permanent

SCULPT started as a yearlong, hands on, online programme designed to simplify morphologically correct composites.  Now evolving into an on-demand training platform, with flexible and inclusive learning at its core. 

This innovative initiative was the brain child of talented dentist Dr. Shiraz Khan and dental student Curran Patel. Shiraz is hailed for his beautiful composite work and is the aesthetic Dentistry award winner 2021 as well as the director of the young dentist academy.  

I was extremely fortunate to meet Dr Shiraz Khan in 2020, I was pre-warned that he was a master of composite and after our meeting I made sure to follow his dentistry on Instagram.  To say his work is inspiring is an understatement: so, when he launched SCULPT along with Curran Patel, I jumped at the chance to sign up. 

SCULPT is the first, hands-on, online composite course of its kind which means you get a comprehensive interactive experience, guided by true professionals at an incredibly competitive price. As a busy Dental Therapist and mother of three this really appealed to me.  Also, the inclusive nature of the course and its marketing means I felt fully encouraged to join as a DCP. 

The initial course ran for a year and offered monthly instalments of focused tutorials by Dr. Shiraz Khan.  Prior to the course commencing we were sent a full kit of 3D printed, pre-prepped typodont teeth, dental instruments, composite and a light cure. 

I was drawn to the idea of learning from the comfort of my own home, without having to take too much time out away from family and I also felt it appealed to my need to develop my skills without the pressure of other people watching me!  The flexibility doesn’t stop there with SCULPT now offering an online platform with unlimited access to on demand pre-recorded videos which take you through creating beautifully morphologically correct restorations in a step-by-step fashion. 

Also, there is enough kit provided to you to practice the techniques you learn multiple times. The easy-to-follow fissure pattern guide has been invaluable and I have been known to check it mid restoration in practice too. 

The instruments are purposefully chosen to be standard style instruments you can find in most dental surgeries - another testament to the inclusive nature of the “SCULPTfam”, ensuring the techniques we learn are easy to replicate in general practice.

In addition to this there is concise and well-chosen pre course material designed to give background to the discussion that takes place on each session; discussing why we use the techniques we do, looking at material choice and bonding protocols to name a few of the topics. 

The first session was incremental placement of a class 1 composite on the upper left second molar.  Learning more about composite shrinkage, cusp and fissure morphology, correct placement and curing protocols was the added bonus of this session.  Dr Khan is passionate about his work and his knowledge is boundless.  It was plain to see from the first session that we are being treated to added value just through conversation about the materials and techniques we use. 

My first attempt was a little rough and I missed being able to polish up my composite post - placement, however I was pleased with the resulting fissure pattern and to have gained the newfound knowledge of creating supporting cusps and oblique ridge initially and working around these to finalise the restoration.

Working further into the course content we are treated to trying the technique of using a bulk fill composite and carving essential lines to recreate the fissure pattern.  This technique had always been a new concept to me and I was excited to learn how we can use it in every day dentistry. Being able to understand the indications and uses of this new technique, and also put it into practice and still build functional and aesthetic restorations was an exciting learning curve.  I have felt confident in my composite placement for a number of years but the small tips and tricks that you can pick up from a teacher like Shiraz serve to really enhance your skill and make you proud to show what you can achieve.  

The sessions challenge you every time, be it with a new technique, a new instrument or with more restorations to achieve in a smaller amount of time.  I have learned to appreciate secondary and tertiary anatomy in a new way and I am no longer needing to polish cusps flatter than I would like them to be!