As I finish these notes, I am on my way home from another wonderful and wonder-filled AACD meeting. The meeting featured outstanding CE, great entertainment, terrific keynote speakers, and opportunities to network with the best of the best and learn all about Accreditation and take the test. There were many innovative exhibitors with the latest stuff we need to create those beautiful new smiles.
DE® has a great relationship with the AACD. Many of this association's members write articles for us. Most of this is thanks to my very good friend, Dr. Betsy Bakeman. Betsy has been our “go to” person in the AACD for some time. She has taken on the responsibility of recommending authors for various subjects, and has even followed up with authors to be sure that deadlines are met.
I always look forward to the AACD's annual meeting because it is packed full of great courses. It is a great place for learning about everything you ever wanted to know. Put it on your list of meetings to attend next year!
I had some outstanding experiences at the annual meeting of the Texas Dental Association in San Antonio on May 1 and 2. I presented two sold-out provisional hands-on workshops. These workshops are generally attended by dental assistants only, but I had some dentists sitting in on both workshops. Everyone was excited about their learning experience, which included making a single-crown provisional, a three-unit bridge provisional, a three-unit anterior bridge provisional, and a provisional for four anterior veneers. Then the classes experienced using the 3M ESPE Protemp™ Crown for temporizing a single molar prep. The dental assistants were particularly excited about this new entry into the temporary marketplace.On Friday evening, May 2, I flew to the CDA meeting in Anaheim and spent all day Saturday and part of Sunday roaming the exhibit floor looking for new products and ideas. The best new product for me was not really a new product. My good friend, Dr. Gene Casagrande, taught me how to use the new STA device by Milestone at the meeting. Wow! I was really impressed and will be writing more on this after I have had a chance to use it clinically.Another new product you need to look at is the periodontal tip that attaches to the DIAGNOdent pen. This is another amazing product that every hygienist needs to discover root surface calculus in pockets. More on this later — both of these items are definitely Pearls!
I am sure that you are reading the “Dental Marketing that Works” column by Stewart Gandolf and Lonnie Hirsch. They always amaze me with the new material they come up with every month. All of their programs are tried and true. You are invited to participate in a landmark study on the state of dental marketing. This study was commissioned by DE® in cooperation with Healthcare Success Strategies. As an incentive to participate, DE® will send you a special report detailing the results when the study is complete. You will not only help make the study possible, but you will receive vital information that will make your dental marketing more effective. To participate in the survey, go online to www.healthcaresuccess.com/dental/marketing-survey.html. Don't forget to look for a summary in upcoming issues of DE®.Mark your calendars now for the annual Paulina's Promise program presented by Gary and Nora Radz. The only home their daughter, Paulina, ever knew was the cardiac unit at The Children's Hospital in Denver. Most parents went home with their children but a few, like the Radzes, were not as fortunate.Heart defects/disease combined is the No. 1 birth defect leading to infant/child deaths. But with proper diagnosis and treatment, many of these children can survive. All of the net proceeds generated by the program will be donated to the Heart Institute at The Children's Hospital. This year's event will take place Sept. 19 in Denver, Colo., with Dr. Paul Homoly presenting “Making It Easy for Patients to Say Yes: Case Acceptance for Complex Dentistry.” Visit www.paulinaspromise.com for more information.
Joe Blaes, DDS, Editor — e-mail: [email protected]
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