ADA meeting a rousing success; 2013 Dental Excellence Awards begin

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

It was great to see everyone at the well-attended ADA Annual Session in San Francisco last week.

The theme of the meeting was "The Future of Dentistry Meets Here," and DrBicuspid's ADA 2012 ShowCast took that theme to heart. Our editorial team was out in full force covering a plethora of technology-related sessions Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well as "hot topic" lectures on the economy, implantology, osteonecrosis, and green dentistry.

Here are some highlights from our coverage:

• Christensen puts implant makers in the hot seat
• Digital diagnostics aids in early caries detection
• Dos and don'ts for a high-tech dental office
• Appealing to patients' emotions improves hygiene compliance
• Bisphosphonates not alone in causing ONJ

In other news, a federal lawsuit filed last week against Aspen Dental Management and the private equity firm that controls it claims Aspen is illegally operating dental clinics across the U.S. by violating laws that require the clinics to be owned by dentists.

Meanwhile, in his ongoing series on the economic evaluation of dental practices, consultant Tom Climo contends that if a dental practice increases its net income margin, the practice sales price will increase along with it.

And our latest Dental Heroes installment features Dr. Othman Shibly, a native of Syria and Lebanon who came to the U.S. 20 years ago with $1,000 and a dream: to study dentistry. Today he is an associate professor at the University at Buffalo dental school and is pursuing another dream: to bring much-needed dental care and humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria.

Finally, it's that time of year again: the DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards!

Starting today, we will take suggestions from our members for candidates in 13 categories, ranging from Most Effective Dentist Educator to Best New Material and Most Controversial Topic. Nominations will be accepted through midnight November 2, 2012.

Your participation in the nomination process is crucial to ensuring that the Dental Excellence Awards are an accurate reflection of dentistry's best and brightest. To get started, just click here or go to dentalexcellenceawards.drbicuspid.com.