Interpreting IDS 2013 for the DPR audience

On the industry side of the dental business, I feel like there are two distinct camps: Those who have been to the International Dental Society meeting in Cologne, Germany, and those who haven’t.

For the majority of the audience of Dental Products Report and Dental Lab Products, however, there are no such distinctions. Rather, there is more of a, “What’s the big deal?” vibe. And that’s understandable.

Needless to say, there is a bit of tradeshow fatigue when it comes to U.S. meetings and conferences. There are so many! Is it business or pleasure? What do I really take away? None of the major meetings you’d be familiar with could even approach what IDS is: a pure product play.

Imagine a world with no CE lectures, booths the size of football fields, crowds lined up 8 people deep to catch a product demo, no “Class of ‘99” networking events - and attendees LOVE it.  As the editor of a dental products magazine, attending for the first time in 2009 was like visiting some sort of holy land. A magical place where only the innovation matters.

Which brings me back to our readers’ question, “What’s the big deal?”

For me, IDS represents a necessary “reset” for the dental industry and dental professionals alike. For every amazing product launch at a tradeshow - like, for example, Imaging Science’s i-CAT FLX at this year’s Chicago Midwinter Meeting - there are numerous launches that are delayed or released and ignored. Dentists may wonder if that new material is REALLY worth their attention or if that new digital imaging purchase is REALLY going to make the difference for their practice. On top of that you layer fears about cost and obsolescence and it can all just get really cloudy. Innovation loses its edge somehow.

IDS is like a fog horn that cuts through the mist. It is a reminder that innovation does matter. Many of the products at the show are still a year or more away from their U.S. debut, but it is a chance to get excited about what dentistry is capable of. It is a beautiful moment in which we don’t have to get into the nitty gritty about financing and training. It is a chance to peel back the curtain and be reminded that we work in an incredible industry capable of creating life-changing products.

That is the big deal.

If you’re looking for the next great technology purchase for your practice, and want to do research and due diligence, I recommend you go to our new dentalproductsandreviews.com portion of the website where you can get key data, video and reviews from your peers.

If, on the other hand, you’re just looking for a little inspiration, I recommend you follow our coverage of the IDS 2013 meeting.