Sweet Home and Beyond - DentalProductsReport.com

HOME OF DENTAL PRODUCTS REPORT • DENTAL LAB PRODUCTS • MODERN HYGIENIST

Login

Printer Friendly

Email Article

New Articles

Printer Friendly

Email Article

Dental Lab Products | January 2009
Competitive Edge | Meetings

Sweet Home and Beyond

The dental world will bundle up for its annual Chicago convergence in late February, but as the calendar flips to March, educational opportunities can be found in locales both warmer and colder than the Windy City.

Late February might not be the most pleasant time of year to stroll Chicago’s Mag Mile, take in the city’s acclaimed architecture, or lounge in the abundant lakefront parks, but with more than half a dozen dental meetings between Feb. 25 and March 1, it is definitely the best time for industry professionals seeking education and networking opportunities to plan a visit. However, if you’re unable to attend this year, once we get through the shortest month, a long list of other opportunities can be found.

In the City That Works

If you have an interest in the latest developments for both your lab and your colleagues on the practice side of the industry, Chicago is most definitely the place to be. You know a meeting is big when it begins to attract followers, and that is certainly the case with the Chicago Dental Society (312-836-7300, mwm@cds.org, www.cds.org) who will welcome the dental multitudes to its annual Midwinter Meeting Thursday, Feb. 26, through Sunday, March 1, at the voluminous McCormick Place Lakeside Center. More than 200 educational sessions covering every aspect of the industry will be presented throughout the event, and the massive exhibit hall will be open Friday through Sunday with representatives from more than 600 manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, and laboratories on hand to present their latest innovations.

Numerous other organizations will be holding their own annual meetings in concert with the CDS event, including the American Prosthodontic Society (312-981-6780, aps@prostho.org, www.prostho.org). As the only dental organization that extends full membership to dental technicians, the APS plans a new format for its 81st annual scientific meeting Feb. 26-27 at the Westin Chicago River North. The first day will be packed with educational sessions on topics of interest to attendees from both the lab and the practice sides of the prosthodontic treatment. An exhibit hall with product demonstrations and table clinics will be open Thursday after educational sessions and again the following morning. The second day will feature educational sessions in the morning with a special 3½-hour afternoon CE course, “Advanced Ceramics: Yesterday & Tomorrow,” presented by Willi Geller, MDT, who will be the recipient of the 2009 Ken Rudd Award at the awards presentation earlier that day.

While focused more on the practice side of things with sessions on materials, 3D imaging, and chairside CAD/CAM, the American Equilibration Society (847-965-2888, exec@aes-tmj.org, www.aes-tmj.org) will host “The Dentist Dilemma: Transfer and Implementation of Diagnostic Material to Treatment Result” Feb. 25-26, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown.

With a day and a half of closed forums, educational sessions, and an exhibitor showcase, the Cal-Lab Group (336-835-9251, contactus@cal-lab.org,www.cal-lab.org) will host a meeting set for Feb. 26-27 at the Westin Hotel on North Michigan Ave. Sessions will cover topics such as regulatory standards and lab software as well as an implant update from David Lesh, CDT, and Paul Rotsaert, RDT, and a market update from Zahn Dental Co. Inc. President Norman Weinstock.

Other associations and organizations holding satellite meetings around the CDS Midwinter Meeting include the Dental Trade Alliance’s World Dental Trade Conference (703-379-7755, info@dentaltradealliance.org, www.dentaltradealliance.org) Feb. 26 at the Hyatt Regency at McCormick Place; The American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics (866-254-0280, aafpjordan@bellsouth.net, www.fixedprosthodontics.org) with lectures, table clinics, and commercial exhibits at its annual scientific session Feb. 27-28 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown; LMT Lab Day Chicago (203-459-2888, info@lmtcommunications.com, www.lmtcommunications.com) featuring an exhibit hall filled with manufacturers and suppliers Feb. 28 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers; and Spectrum Dialogue’s Techno-Clinical Day (905-489-1970, events@spectrumdialogue.com, www.spectrumdialogue.com) Feb. 27 at the Wyndham Chicago featuring eight lectures from lab owners and dental technicians from around the globe.

As always, the February issue of DLP will feature a complete rundown on all the details of the events in Chicago to help you plan your visit.

Marching north of the border

While the offerings are more spread out in March, there are plenty of chances to catch up with colleagues, check out new developments, and attend continuing education sessions for those unable to make it to Chicago in February. If you’re looking to make a trip to Canada, March might be the time with a pair of events offering reasons to visit Toronto or Vancouver.

Featuring more than 100 educational sessions and 500-plus exhibit booths, the Pacific Dental Conference (604-736-3781, info@pdconf.com, www.pdconf.com) is set for Thursday through Saturday, March 5-7 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre in Vancouver, B.C. Presented in conjunction with the Canadian Dental Association, the event features sessions on clinical and practice management topics.

The Dental Industry Association of Canada will host Technorama 2009 (416-884-1572, williamdowe@hotmail.com, www.diac.ca) Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, at the DoubleTree International Plaza Hotel in Toronto. The largest dental technology convention in Canada, Technorama will feature an exhibit floor and education sessions covering both technical and business topics.

Stating their case

For those looking to stay a little closer to home, a number of state lab associations will be holding sessions in March. The Louisiana DLA (336-835-9251, contactus@ldla.org, www.ldla.org) Spring Meeting is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 13-14, in Baton Rouge.

The weekend of Friday and Saturday, March 20-21, will be busy with the Minnesota DLA (651-317-8065, info@associationdevelopment.com, www.mndentallab.org) hosting its Northland Exhibition in Bloomington; the North Carolina DLA (336-835-9251, contactus@ncdla.org, www.ncdla.org) holding its Spring Educational Meeting in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and the Colorado DLA (303-948-7441, chriscdla@yahoo.com, www.cdlawebpage.org) mixing a little recreation in with education and networking at its Spring Technical Expo & Ski in Lakewood.

Photo: Adam Jones / Getty Images

1 of 1