2008 Tucker Institute

June 19-22, 2008
University of Washington School of Dentistry
Seattle, Washington

This year’s course happened because Dick Tucker had a dream. He envisioned a tuition free clinical course on gold inlays for dental school faculty. The course was limited to fifty participants from dentals schools in the United States and Canada. The five-day course was held at the University of Washington Dental School. University of Washington Restorative Dentistry cosponsored the course with the Tucker Academy. Seventeen U. S. and four Canadian dental schools sent participants.
The critiques were generous. Some say that we hit a home run. I know that at least one person got it because he came up to me and said, “I got that this course was about excellence and gold was the vehicle.”
This course was a result of a lot of work by many people. I would like to acknowledge the dental school at the University of Washington for supporting this course for the last 14 years. This year Restorative Dentistry helped fund the course and Continuing Dental Education helped with the registration...[READ MORE with lots of pictures]

Join The Beverly Hills Chapter Of The Richard V. Tucker Cast Gold Study Club

You are cordially invited to join the Beverly Hills chapter of the Academy of Richard V. Tucker Cast Gold Study Clubs, designed to refine your clinical techniques in aesthetic, conservative cast gold restorative dentistry. The Academy serves study club members who share a common bond, which is a special dedication to excellence in dentistry. [READ MORE]

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58 Years of Excellence: UBC Honorary Degree awarded to
Dr. Richard V. Tucker

By Joanna Wong, Professional Writing Program,
University of Victoria and Europe.

It is a strange twist of fate that Dr. Richard Vaughn Tucker, arguably the most outstanding figure in clinical dentistry, was originally born in Idaho in a small town named “Orofino”. In Spanish, “Orofino” means “fine gold”—apt beginnings for a man who today has gained international recognition and respect for his work in restorative gold dentistry.
At this year’s May convocation, UBC celebrated Dr. Tucker’s contribution to the art and science of dentistry with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree—the first nomination by the Faculty of Dentistry and the first honorary degree awarded to a dentist in the history of the university.
Since he started practicing in 1946, Dr. Tucker’s commitment to excellence in dentistry has had an impact on the profession and patient care around the world. He is held in high regard not only for his clinical standards but his innovations in design in cast gold restoration.
“I’ve always been more into the art than the science of dentistry,” Dr. Tucker says. “The art of dentistry is doing the mechanical part of dentistry and doing it well. If it’s a beautiful inlay, it’s a work of art. “
Widely regarded as the father of continuing dental education, Dr. Tucker is perhaps best known for his worldwide network of restorative gold dentistry study clubs. The Richard V. Tucker study club movement began in Vancouver in 1976, and has since expanded to more than fifty Tucker study clubs in Canada, the United States and Europe.
Dr. Lawrence Vanzella, a charter member of the Vancouver study club, says it’s Dr. Tucker’s patient, encouraging demeanor and ever-present enthusiasm that makes his study clubs such positive learning environments.
“He’s influenced us professionally, for sure, but I think he also has had quite an impact on our life philosophy,” says Dr. Vanzella, who’s been studying with Dr. Tucker for the past 27 years. “I think his honesty and integrity is catching.”
To date, Dr. Tucker has presented over 250 lectures and graduate courses on restorative gold dentistry worldwide. He has a long association with UBC’s Faculty of Dentistry, where has been offering a oneweek clinical course on cast gold procedures for 25 years.
“I never meant to be a teacher but it kind of evolved,” Dr. Tucker explains. “With teaching, you’re able to see people just really come alive about dentistry.”
This fall, the Faculty of Dentistry will be holding an international symposium to celebrate Dr. Tucker’s achievements. An innovative program of current topics in restorative dentistry, with world-renowned speakers, is being presented.

For registration information, please call (604) 822-6156 or toll free:
1-877-328-7744.