Highlights From The 2021 Chicago Midwinter Meeting

The 2021 Chicago Midwinter Meeting is winding down, and while the show looked different in a virtual format, exciting new products and industry excellence were still celebrated just as in years past.

During the meeting’s opening session, the Chicago Dental Society recognized 3 individuals for their contributions to the profession. Dr Mark Humenik, Dr Jeffery Dalin, and Lois Banta were presented with their honorary awards due to their dedication to academic and scientific excellence, volunteer services, and efforts to provide care to underserved communities.

“We are thrilled to recognize Dr. Jeffrey Dalin, Lois Banta, and Dr. Mark Humenik for their leadership and outstanding contributions to the field of dentistry,” said CDS President Dr. Dean Nicholas.  “Their dedication to the dental profession and positive impact in their communities is exactly the kind of contribution we encourage and seek to recognize with these awards.”

Lois Banta

Banta, who is COO of eAssist Dental Solutions, was presented with the Gordon J. Christensen Lecturer Recognition Award in honor of her contributions to the Midwinter meeting and dentistry as a whole.

The CDS Foundation Vision Award is given to dedicated volunteers who support access to dental care for the underserved community and was awarded to Dr Humenik for his mission work in Mexico and for starting the Mission of Mercy at the Illinois State Dental Society.

Dr Mark Humenik

Dr Dalin was honored with the George H. Cushing Award, given to individuals who raise public awareness about oral health issues. With a committee of dentists, he planned the Give Kids A Smile program to deliver care to children without access to dental care.

Dr Jeffery Dalin

Henry Schein, Inc. had a large presence at this year’s show despite its virtual nature. Visitors to the company’s virtual booth were able to schedule consultation appointments and showroom tours, as well as view demonstrations with Henry Schein’s digital workflow experts.

“At Henry Schein, our customers can rely on us for solutions to help grow and manage their practices,” said AJ Caffentzis, president, U.S. Dental Distribution, Henry Schein. “The Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting is an opportunity for us to continue to help oral health professionals navigate the world of dentistry with our educational offerings, solutions, and expansive portfolio of products. Throughout this year’s virtual meeting, attendees can explore our office space planning services, digital technology solutions, and business solutions while also learning about the latest strategies, resources, and tools to enhance their business.”

The company also announced 2 live programs and 1 on-demand program for industry professionals interested in practice design and digital technology integration. On March 3, “Know Before You Build” will focus on practice designs, and on March 2 and 23 “3D Expo” will feature digital technologies and integration. The on-demand program, “From Vision to Completion” is available here.

exocad's new DentalCAD 3.0 Galway software.

Like in most years, the Midwinter Meeting is rife with new product launches from industry leaders, and this year was no different. exocad America introduced its DentalCAD 3.0 Galway software. It is said to include over 90 new features, including an updated user interface; Instant Anatomic Morphing designed to offer automatic adaption of teeth in real-time; parametric shape adjustment; virtual tooth extraction on optical scans, and more.

ReLeaf Minis HVE from Kulzer.

Kulzer expanded its Ivory® Releaf™ line with ReLeaf Minis, a hands-free HVE for smaller arches. Designed to provide 280° of suction while maintaining patient comfort, the ReLeaf Minis are 25% smaller and work with existing ReLeaf hoses and connections. They are well-suited for pediatric, elderly, TMJ, and special needs patients.

Chairside Attachment Processing Material from Zest Dental Solutions.

Zest Dental Solution’s new Chairside® Attachment Processing Material is designed for predictability and ease of use when processing attachments into full and partial overdentures. The material reportedly requires no primer and bonds to itself for void-fills and touch-ups. Available in Normal and Fast Sets, Chairside is designed to reduce chair time.