ADA annual meeting kicks off this week

SAN ANTONIO - More than 30,000 dental professionals from around the world are expected to attend the ADA's 149th Annual Session and World Marketplace Exhibition in San Antonio this week.

Some of the top minds in dental education will present more than 225 continuing education courses. In addition, the World Marketplace Exhibition will feature more than 650 exhibitors, including DrBicuspid.com. Stop by our booth (#2468) to check out some of the new features we'll be launching at the show, including product reviews/comparisons from The Dental Advisor and "Word of Mouth," a collection of op/ed columns -- some might even call them blogs -- with first-person perspective on current news and events, plus practice management and imaging advice, from dentists and industry experts.

Special events at the ADA conference include the "Distinguished Speaker Series," which kicks off Friday morning (October 17) with award-winning NBC "Nightly News" anchor and broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw. On Saturday morning, the speaker series will feature Bob and Lee Woodruff, authors of the book In an Instant. In January 2006, within weeks of his appointment as co-anchor of ABC's "World News Tonight," a roadside bomb in Iraq nearly killed Woodruff. Since that day, his remarkable recovery has inspired people all over the world.

New at this year's ADA Annual Session is the "Live Operatory Center," featuring a Laser Pavilion, 3D Imaging Center, and CAD/CAM Stage. Try out various lasers during the hands-on workshops in the Laser Pavilion, watch demonstrations of six different imaging systems in the 3D Imaging Center, and see how CAD/CAM technology can help expand your practice with demonstrations of the Cerec system from Sirona Dental Systems and the E4D system from Henry Schein Dental.

"The 'Live Operatory Center' is a breakthrough in dental meeting education," said Dr. Chip Mohme, program chairperson of the ADA 2008 Annual Session, in a press release. "Without leaving the exhibit floor, dental professionals can receive continuing education credit in three of the highest tech areas of a dental practice. The ADA Annual Session is the only place where you can see live demonstrations of 3D imaging and CAD/CAM dentistry, and work hands-on with multiple dental lasers."

The San Antonio meeting also marks the beginning of the ADA's yearlong celebration of its 150th anniversary.

"The ADA's 150th anniversary is a critical milestone in the history of our profession and in the life of our association," said Mark Feldman, D.M.D., ADA president. "We hope that all our members across the country will join us in celebrating 150 years of excellence in service to our profession and our patients. We can all take great pride in our accomplishments and in our contributions to the nation's health."