For more on this topic, go to www.dentaleconomics.com and search using the following key words: A Gathering of Eagles, CE, continuing education, esthetics symposium.
The world-class esthetics symposium — A Gathering of Eagles — will be hosted by The Pankey Institute and produced by PennWell® on Nov. 5-8, 2008, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. When I read the full title of the symposium, Porcelain and Titanium: A Synthesis for Beauty, I was truly confused — at least at first. You see, I live with one foot in the laboratory side of our profession and the other as a clinician/educator in dentistry. I quickly (and most mistakenly) thought back to all of the early experience labs had with titanium milled copings and porcelain buildups as an alternative to traditional PFMs. But, “Whoa, Nelly!” I pulled back on the reigns when I realized this was a program centered on titanium implant reconstructions featuring some of the most esthetic solutions known to date.
Wow! That got me thinking. Whatever happened to zinc phosphate cements, silicates, UV-cured restorative materials, and Adaptic? AND, how did we even work without computers, intraoral cameras, fiber-optic handpieces, and zirconia? It goes to show you that you can teach old dogs new tricks. Are you ready to learn some more? Then read on ...
The Pankey Institute is a first-rate (bias showing here), nonprofit, continuing dental education foundation. Thirty-six years old and getting younger, this paradise in Key Biscayne, Fla., has long been a guiding beacon for dentistry as the profession has evolved. The Institute's nonprofit stance is a unique attribute for CE organizations. Unbiased and free of commercial influences, the Institute accepts no advertising or money to name its lecture halls or clinical facilities. Funding to equip the Institute has come from the donations of participating dentists and even some of its appreciative patients. The operational costs of the program are largely funded by tuition and endowments from individuals.
Like The Pankey Institute's courses, A Gathering of Eagles promises to be a commercially unbiased, open dialogue, excellent educational program. Current and futuristic, world-class clinicians and technicians will gather to give us insight into implant reconstruction of the human dentition today.
Speakers include: Gerard J. Chiche, DDS, head of the Prosthodontics Department at Louisiana State University and director of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry; Avishai Sadan, DMD, editor-in-chief of Quintessence International and chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry of the Case School of Dental Medicine; Pascal Magne, PhD, DMD, senior lecturer, Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Occlusion of the University of Geneva School of Dentistry and chair of Esthetic Dentistry of the University of Southern California; his brother, Michael Magne, CDT, director of dental technology of the University of Southern California; Urs C. Belser, DMD, full professor and head of the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Occlusion of the University of Geneva School of Dental Medicine; Irwin M. Becker, DDS, chairman emeritus of the Department of Education of The Pankey Institute; Steve Ratcliff, DDS, MS, chairman of the Department of Education of The Pankey Institute; and prominent Pankey scholars Michael C. Fling, DDS; James F. Fondriest, DDS; George F. Warga, DDS; John Orsi, DDS; and Jeffrey Baggett, DDS.
One theme of this gathering is mentorship. Finding the right person to walk with you as you grow is often a requirement for the level of success achieved by these presenters. For example, Pascal Magne was Urs Belser's resident, and all of the speakers have had key mentor relationships that helped them see farther than they would have on their own.
Several major manufacturers have given unrestricted education grants to support this program: PennWell Corporation, Hereaus, Straumann, Axis Dental, 3M ESPE, KaVo, BienAir, DTI Dental Technologies, Patterson Dental, CEREC by Sirona, Chase HealthAdvance (formerly Unicorn Financial), and Valley Dental Arts.
Thanks go to Steve Ratcliff, DDS, the Institute's new education chairman; Drs. Lee Ann Brady and Irwin M. Becker, who are members of the resident faculty; and the rest of the Pankey team for giving us the opportunity to experience this gift. This program promises to exceed anything else you will attend this year on the interplay of esthetics, porcelain, and implants. Attendance is expected to exceed 500 and include some of the world's most accomplished dentists.
If you want to be part of something really special and get a glimpse into the future … if you want to understand our current capabilities for predictable, long-lasting functional and esthetic results, come to Miami's South Beach this fall. Details about this in-depth symposium and registration can be found at www.pankeygatheringofeagles.com.
Mark Murphy is a featured presenter for the National Dental Network and the National Lab Network. He lectures internationally on a variety of dental clinical and behavioral subjects. Dr. Murphy practices part time in Rochester Hills, Mich., and is the director of professional relations at The Pankey Institute. You may contact him by e-mail at [email protected] or visit mtmurphydds.com.
