Talk of the town

Unless you can clone yourself, chances are you won’t be able to take in all of the lectures, workshops, hands-on demonstrations and forums you want to attend during the jam-packed days surrounding the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, Feb. 23-27. With some careful planning, however, you could hear the most important ideas and advice collectively offered by respected key opinion leaders through panel discussions that are designed to offer a number of viewpoints on a common topic and often are accompanied by interactive question-and-answer periods.

Chicago Midwinter Meeting
Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 24-26/McCormick Place

While the majority of the scientific sessions at the Chicago Dental Society’s 146th annual Chicago Midwinter Meeting will be geared toward dentists and the members of their staffs, many courses offered at the interdisciplinary meeting will focus on topics of interest to technicians working in the same pursuit of exceptional patient care.

Friday morning, “Controversies in Dentistry: Implants & Implant Restorations” will bring together renowned clinicians Drs. Gordon Christensen, Harold Crossley, Timothy Donley, Dale Miles, Daniel Nathanson, M. Nadir Sharifi and Christopher Wenckus, and Cathy Jameson, MS, who collectively will cover multiple aspects of materials, devices and  procedures related to this multifaceted, complex subject. In addition, Drs. Joseph Massad, Tony Daher, William Davis, Mostafa El-Serif, Richard June, William Lobel and Joseph Thornton will cover  “Predictable Complete Dentures and Implant Over-Dentures” in separate morning and afternoon sessions Friday, and then this same teaching team will present the participation course “The Ultimate Prosthetic and Implant Impressioning Experience” Saturday morning.

Don’t Miss? Drs. Thomas J. Wilson and Frank Higginbottom: “Interdisciplinary Digital Implant Dentistry” (Thurs. a.m., p.m.); Dr. Gerard Chiche: “Recipes for Predictable Anterior Esthetics” (Fri. a.m., p.m.)

Cal-Lab
Thursday-Friday, Feb. 24-25/Westin Michigan Ave.

The Cal-Lab Group’s annual members meeting is known for the high caliber of speakers it attracts, and this year’s line-up will only emphasize that standing of excellence. Friday morning, Dell Dine, CDT, National Dentex VP of R&D, will moderate “CAD/CAM Scanner Shootout,” a panel of dental scanner company executives and consultants including Katherine Galvin (Biomet 3i), Dan McMaster (3M ESPE), Tais Clausen (3Shape), Naoum Araj (Dental Wings), Jerry Vogel (NobelProcera) and Michael Suris (Dental Professional Labs). Each panelist will present the features and benefits of his/her company’s own scanning technology, then the panel as a whole will discuss the challenges, costs and rewards involved with scanner integration.

Don’t Miss? Jim Glidewell, CDT: “The Digital Future of Dental Laboratory Technology” (Fri. a.m.); Gary Price, Dental Trade Alliance CEO: “Health Care Reform and Dental Labs” (Thurs. p.m.)

Jensen Education Day
Friday, Feb. 25/Swissôtel

Though not technically a panel discussion, the setup of the Jensen Education Day has a collaborative feel with several high-end technicians from around the world presenting table clinics that allow for intimate one-on-one contact. The renowned presenters include Patrick Boche, MDT; Daniele Capoferri, CDT, Oral Design; Steve Chevalier, CDT; Cezar Jadak, MDT; Yasu Kawabe, CDT, MDT, Oral Design; Jason Kim, CDT, Oral Design; Terry MicQuiston, CDT; Thomas Singh, MDT; Randey Smith, CDT, Oral Design; Francisco Mello, MDT, Oral Design; Antonello Remartini, CDT, Oral Design; and Jo Weber, MDT.

Don’t Miss? Willi Geller, MDT, Oral Design; and Joachim A. Maier, MDT, Oral Design: “The New Era in Aesthetic Dentistry”; Peter Pizzi, MDT: “Esthetic Realities with Metal Ceramic Materials”

Techno-Clinical Day
Friday, Feb. 25/Wyndham Chicago

Offering a decidedly international flavor to hands-on education, the Spectrum-Dialogue Techno-Clinical Day will bring together American, European and Asian technicians on both sides of the lectern with introductions by moderators Domenico Cascione, MDT, and Dr. John Sorenson.

Don’t Miss? Dr. Joseph L. Caruso and Luke Kahng, CDT: “Capture the Synergy for Achieving Success” (Fri. p.m.); Dr. Lyndon Cooper and Lee Culp, CDT: “New Technologies for Edentulism” (Fri. p.m.)

Lab Day
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 25-26/ Sheraton Hotel & Towers

The LMT Lab Day Chicago exhibition expands to two days this year to include Friday as well as Saturday. In addition, sponsored educational programs will be offered throughout the Sheraton’s large ballrooms, smaller meeting rooms and suites.

Friday afternoon, Nobel Biocare and Vident will cosponsor “Success Through Efficiency and Innovation: Large Lab Concepts for Medium and Smaller Sized Labs” Moderated by Dr. Mark Murphy, the limited-attendance panel discussion will feature Mary Borg; Chuck Yenkner, MBA; Billy Drake, CDT; Richard Harrell, CDT; Ricki Braswell, CAE; Josh Green; Amos Harting, CDT; and Rich King, RDT. Attendees will be able to ask questions via text messaging for interactive audience participation. Also, the NADL and LMT will cosponsor a panel presentation to address federal regulations with a direct impact on laboratory operations. Panelists include Jeff Stronk, CDT; Gary Iocco; Jennifer Goldstein; R.J. DeLapa Jr.; and Bennett Napier, CAE.

In addition, several companies such as 3M ESPE, Amann Girrbach, Biomet 3i, DENTSPLY Prosthetics, GC America, Ivoclar Vivadent, Preat/BEGO, Sirona, Whip Mix and Zahn Dental will set up shop in one (or more) of the ballrooms or conference rooms to present focused learning through a combination of short and long presentations.

Don’t Miss? Nanette Boyd, CDT: “The Life of a Digital Crown” (Fri., p.m.); Steve Nash, MDT: “Technical Tips and Tricks to Keep your Lab Profitable and Lean” Fri., a.m.); Dr. David Little: “Grow Beyond Dentures with Implant Restorations” (Fri. a.m., p.m.); Dr. Galip Gürel; Trevor Laingchild, RDT; Michel Magne and Matt Roberts: “The World Speaks e.max in Chicago” (Sat. a.m., p.m.); Billy Goddard: “Making Your Lab More Efficient: Advanced Techniques in Creating Dentures” (Sat. p.m.)

Creative Edge Symposium
Friday, Feb. 25/Sheraton Hotel & Towers

Coinciding with Lab Day, BEGO and Preat will once again join forces to offer the Creative Edge Symposium series of lectures and hands-on demonstrations on fixed and removable restorations, including a Q&A sessions with the day’s presenters, Thomas Bormes, Martin Schmid, CDT; Druce Keeling; and Dr. Roland Strietzel.

Don’t Miss? Chris Bormes: “Fiber is Good For You” (Fri. a.m.); Martin Schmid, CDT, and Dr. Roland Strietzel: “Non-Precious-Is Becoming the Alloy of Choice!” (Fri. p.m.)

American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 25-26/ Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile

The American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Meeting will bring together high-caliber clinicians and technicians whose main goal is to provide the optimal patient care. Lectures will cover both clinical and technical topics.

Don’t Miss? Hiro Tokutomi, RDT: “The Art of Shade Matching: The Ceramist’s Perspective” (Fri. p.m.); Dr. Galip Gürel: “An Interdisciplinary Approach for Better Aesthetic Results” (Sat. p.m.)

American Prosthodontic Society
Thursday-Friday, Feb. 24-25/Swissôtel

The American Prosthodontic Society’s annual meeting also will comprise educational programs for technicians and clinicians to attend together for team learning.

Don’t Miss? Dr. Jane Brewer: “Shade Taking Devices: Which One is Right For You?” (Thurs. p.m.); Dr. Paul Child Jr., CDT: “Dental Products and New Technology: Making Ethical Decisions” (Fri. p.m.)