Treat Smarter, Maintain Better: The Periodontal Update You Need

We are delighted to invite you to the annual Australian Dental Association Northern Territory (ADA NT) end-of year event, which is taking place this year on Saturday 15th November 2025. The event will combine a daytime educational CPD program featuring keynote speaker Dr Tihana Divnić-Resnik, with the largest trade show of the NT calendar. In addition to our annual Christmas Conference we are also holding a Dental Assistant Trainnig course with Rochelle Fisher . All followed by an evening of entertainment with the ADA NT’s famous themed Cocktail Party!

Location: Double Tree by Hilton Darwin Esplanade, Grand Ballroom (8.00am Registration for 8.30am - 4.30pm) followed by our Cocktail Party at Wharf One 7pm.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

1) TREAT SMARTER, MAINTAIN BETTER: THE PERIODONTAL UPDATE YOU NEED

Join us for a full-day session that’s serious about science but engaging in delivery.
Refresh your periodontal knowledge with the latest updates in diagnosis and non-surgical therapy, then put prevention into practice with a hands-on iTOP experience. Review, learn, and have fun while mastering tools and techniques that support long-term periodontal health.

Dr Tihana Divnić-Resnik BDS, MSc, PhD, FICD, FHEA is a Senior Lecturer and DMD Course Coordinator in the Discipline of Periodontics at the School of Dentistry, The University of Sydney. She is currently the Acting Head of the Discipline of Periodontics and Lead of the Digital Health Education Team at Sydney Dental School. She brings extensive international experience in education, alongside her clinical expertise as a specialist in Periodontology and Oral Medicine (University of Belgrade).

Dr Divnić-Resnik provides patient care at the Department of Periodontics at Sydney Dental Hospital and supervises students’ clinical training at both Sydney Dental Hospital and the Westmead Centre for Oral Health. Her research has been published in several international journals and presented at numerous professional conferences.

She has led continuing professional development courses both in Australia and internationally and is a committed educator recognised as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She is also an active member of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), the Australian Dental Association (ADA), the Australian Society of Periodontology (ASP), and the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), as well as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists (FICD).

In 2024, she was recognised as one of the World’s Top 100 Doctors by the Global Summit Institute, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the profession.

2) WHOLE OF PRACTICE TRAINING

We are proud to hold out first Dental Assistant Training day in relation to our Christmas Conference.

Rochelle Fisher will be running a training course for our Dental Assistants.

A Day for DAs NT – Program Outline

Welcome & Introduction

• Overview of the day and aims
• Setting the tone – “you are the heartbeat of the clinic”

Cross Infection Control 2023–2025 Updates (AS5369:2023)

• What’s changed and why it matters
• Transporting and storing RMDs safely
• Clinic zoning, PPE layers and correct gown use
• Practical: Cleaning treatment rooms – what compliance really looks like

Morning Tea (Break)

Hands-On: Donning, Doffing & Surgical Set-Up

• Step-by-step demonstration and participant practice
• Surgical set-ups simplified – instrument flow and asepsis
• Suction and handpiece maintenance – joined by NSK representative for a live demo

Communication & Team Dynamics

• “We can’t change them, but we can change how we communicate with them”
• Working effectively with your dentist or OHT
• Case-based role-plays on language, tone, and proactive support

Lunch (Break)

Ergonomics & Four-Handed Dentistry

• Why posture and positioning matter for both DA and operator
• Chairside choreography – practical 4-handed flow
• Simple posture resets and micro-stretches

Afternoon Tea (Break)

Health, Wellbeing & The Team Approach

• Recognising fatigue and supporting each other on busy days
• Building respect and culture in the clinic
• Breathing, grounding and mental reset techniques

Wrap-Up & Q&A

• Key takeaways
• Open discussion and feedback

Please be sure to buy a separate Dental Assistant Ticket to cover the cost of catering and the course. (More details to come).

Rochelle Fisher – Founder, Dental Assisting & Beyond
With over 28 years of experience supporting dental teams across the UK and Australia, Rochelle Fisher is a passionate educator, speaker, and advocate for the dental assisting profession. She is the founder of Dental Assisting & Beyond – an education platform dedicated to upskilling and empowering dental teams through practical, real-world training.Rochelle is a regular contributor to international dental journals, a keynote speaker, and was recently appointed as an overseas ambassador for a UK dental nursing association. Her mission is to help dental assistants and their teams build long-term, rewarding careers – bridging the gap between clinical support and confident, capable teamwork.Known for her relatable style and honest storytelling, Rochelle brings a unique blend of hands-on experience, leadership insight, and a deep understanding of the challenges (and opportunities) facing dental teams today

3) TRADESHOW

We have our annual tradeshow with industry sponsors - Anyone is welcome to attend all day throughout the conference.

4) TROPICAL FIESTA CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL FUNCTION: TROPICAL FIESTA

Join us from 7 pm at Wharf One in your best costumes to the theme of Tropical Fiesta to eat, drink and dance.

ADA NT is looking forward to welcoming you to our annual end of year celebration!

Please note: If you are a ADA NT member attending from Alice Springs, please email [email protected] prior to ordering your ticket.

Sponsorship Disclaimer:

This event is supported by the Australian Dental Association and sponsors, we are proud to support the provision of high quality, evidence-based and unbiased academic speakers on the occasion of their visit to the NT to support ADA Members and allied dental specialists.

Presentations at an ADA NT event do not constitute endorsement by ADANT. The delegate takes sole responsibility for the use of any information provided. Information and opinions presented are those of the presenters.

The speaker for this event has been independently sourced and their honorarium and associated costs paid for directly by ADA NT.

Info: Location: Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade Darwin – Grand Ballroom
Learning objectives:
1. Understand the key elements of the latest periodontal classification system and how to apply them in daily clinical practice.
2. Recognise clinical indicators for accurate diagnosis and staging of periodontal diseases based on current evidence.
3. Explore modern non-surgical periodontal therapy protocols, including effective instrumentation strategies, risk-based approaches, and the use of adjuncts (focusing on chemical biofilm control discussion).
4. Understand the importance of supportive periodontal care, highlighting the iTOP philosophy as a critical component of long-term periodontal stability.
5. Participate in a hands-on practical session to experience the iTOP concept, learning proper use of individual oral care devices (IAP) and techniques (solo; “u”,”x”, etc.) to better educate and motivate patients.
6. Formulate personalised treatment and maintenance plans, integrating updated dia

Info: Location: Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade in Litchfield Room. See detailed run sheet in course overview.

Info: Location: Wharf One. Theme: Tropical Fiesta

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade Darwin, 116 Esplanade, Darwin City, Australia

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App