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March 2009 | Dental Lab Products
Competitive Edge

	The awe-inspiring Cologne Cathedral took more than 600 years to construct and now is considered one of the best-recognized architectural monuments in Germany.

International inclinations

Get your passport and comfy traveling clothes ready because the International Dental Show is worth the trip to Cologne. However, April and May offer plenty of opportunities for those looking to stay closer to home.

by Noah Levine

Every two years, the entire dental world assembles in Cologne, Germany, but it’s not the acclaimed cathedral, regional beer styles, or hearty cuisine attracting all the attention. Nope, those are just extra benefits available to those who make the trek to check out all the product demonstrations and educational opportunities offered at the massive, biennial International Dental Show (IDS) taking place Tuesday, March 24, through Saturday, March 28, at Cologne’s Koelnmesse exhibition space.

Expanding into a fourth exhibit hall for 2009, the 33rd IDS expects to be bigger than ever. Organizers are preparing to play host to more 100,000 visitors who will have the opportunity to review the latest innovations and products from more than 1,750 exhibitors representing 50-plus countries. The exhibit halls will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day of the event.

The exhibitors and attendees will cross the entire spectrum of dental care. However, dental lab owners and technicians will find plenty of manufacturers focused on their areas of expertise. Organizers from the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI) said this year the show will focus on topics including ceramics and esthetics, dental alloy innovations, advances in CAD/CAM technology, and dental prosthetics. In addition, the VDDI will hold the Third International Dental Technician Forum Thursday, March 26 from 2 to 5 p.m.
For more information on IDS 2009 visit english.ids-cologne.de.
 

Closer to home

For those who are not up for traveling quite so far, an array of meetings around North America are scheduled for April. Kicking off the month will be the Dental Laboratory Association of Texas’ DFW Southwest Conference and Expo Thursday through Sunday April 2-5 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. More than 30 lectures and hands-on workshops will be presented in morning and afternoon programs covering scientific and professional development topics. Highlights include a State of the Industry report Friday morning as well as eat-and-learns and table clinics in addition to networking social activities. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Saturday, the exhibit hall will give attendees a chance to spend time with the companies showing off their latest products at the show. For more information, visit www.dlat.org or call 800-831-7905.

That same weekend, the Washington State Dental Laboratory Association will host its annual NW Lab Forum April 2-5 at the Embassy Suites in Lynwood, near Seattle. Friday courses will focus exclusively on business matters for lab owners/managers, while Saturday and Sunday sessions will be geared for those at the bench with three separate tracks of learning the first day and two hands-on courses the second day. For complete details, visit www.wsdla.com, e-mail peg2@mashell.com, or call 800-652-2212.

If you’re looking for a little international travel, but still close to home, Spectrum Dialogue and the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta will co-sponsor the DenTechWest conference Friday through Sunday, April 2-5, at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta. A comprehensive schedule of educational programs will cover the traditional (cast partial dentures, removable prosthetics, attachments, infection control) and the cutting-edge (digital technology, implants). For registration and conference information, visit www.spectrumdialogue.com or call 905-489-1970.

Later in the month, the action moves back home with the 22nd Mid-West Spring Technical Meeting scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, April 23-26, at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites just north of downtown Indianapolis. With more than 60 technical and management seminars on the schedule, an exhibit hall featuring more than 40 vendors, a golf tournament, and more, the event offers ample opportunity for continuing education, networking and a bit of fun. Visit www.mwstm.com or call 800-366-1161 for more information.

The Southeastern Conference of Dental Laboratories also will hold its annual meeting April 23-26 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta. The meeting will include keynote presentations from Drs. Ed McLaren and Richard Williamson, along with lectures, demonstrations, and table clinics on a range of topics. For more information, visit www.scdl-online.org or call 336-835-9251.

The New York University  4th Annual Ceramic Symposium presents “Education: The Foundation and Changing Times”. Everyday dentistry plays a larger role in the world of beauty.  Join leading pioneers in esthetic dentistry as they cover the importance of continuing education in order to keep in line with the modern day dental practice and laboratory. Discover new means of communication between clinician and ceramist for overcoming any aesthetic issue. Speakers includee Richard Pavlak, CDT, MDT, Drs. Michael Apa and Stephen Chu as well as Michel Magne, MDT, Jason Kim, CDT, Peter Pizzi, MDT, CDT, and Adam Mieleszko, CDT. Contact Danel Burdo at dburdo@jasonjkim.com.

Coming up fast

Just around the corner, mark your calendars for the 36th annual Western States Conference (www.wsci.us) April 30-May 2 in Reno, Nev., and the renamed Southern States Symposium & Expo presented by the Florida Dental Laboratory Association (www.fdla.net) May 7-9 in Orlando. 

Photo:Guy Vanderelst/Getty Images