Happy New Year! This is my favorite time of the year because it is a chance to stop doing what we normally do and celebrate the beginning of a new year. It is a time to be retrospective about how we did this past year. Consider what changes you want to make in the New Year to make 2009 even better. Spend some time with your team in brainstorming exercises to improve the practice. Remember, it is impossible to do it alone!
In this time of economic and political uncertainty, it is important to be conservative with our spending. Dental Economics® wants to help you in this effort by hosting a most unusual dental trade show — one in which your personal computer becomes the location of the show! Forget about travel, hotel reservations, crowds, walking the exhibit floor — everything will be available on your computer.
So, come as you are on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 5 and 6, to the DDS Tech Fair virtual trade show. The tech fair will offer the experience of a traditional trade show at no cost to you, the attendee. This means free CE and free registration! The DDS Tech Fair is an online event consisting of exhibitors, continuing-education presentations, interaction with other attendees, and more. For more information, log on to www.ddstechfair.com.
This “virtual trade show” will feature many of the same benefits that other dental trade shows offer. There will be an exhibit hall where you can chat with vendors about new products and arrange for a company representative to demonstrate products in your office. A keynote speaker will challenge you with new thoughts, and other speakers will present continuing-education seminars to help you stay informed and earn CE credits free. There will even be a lounge where you can relax in a networking environment with other attendees and have a virtual drink of your choice.
Some of the other great features of DDS Tech Fair will include:
- Making new friends — Take advantage of live chat opportunities with your peers and exhibitors through instant messaging and a virtual business card. Take a few moments to interact with others, just as you would on the show floor at a regular trade show.
- Obtaining immediate information — Instantly download product videos and detailed descriptions from vendors.
- Going to the Prize Center — Many great prizes will be awarded here, based on your activity at the meeting.
All this and you don't have to leave your house to attend the DDS Tech Fair. You merely type in the Web address of www.ddstechfair.com to get started.
I would like to call your attention to a new continuing-education program from Dr. Roger Levin. The Levin Group is launching a new business division called Levin Group Practice Success Training to offer training programs. The One-Day Training by Levin Group will provide a one-day intensive learning experience focused on one specific topic. Practices will learn skills and solutions related to a particular business system that they can implement the next day.
The first five one-day training programs will become available in February. The topics are: “The 1 Day Hygiene Maximizer™,” “The 1 Day Case Presentation™,” “The 1 Day Marketing That Matters™,” The 1 Day Immediate Collections Process™,” and “The 1 Day New Patient Experience™. The training is taught in the dentist's office by Levin Group trainers.
I am also happy to announce that John Molinari, PhD, has returned to the pages of DE every month with his “Emerging Infection Control” column. Another monthly column, “X-ray Files,” by Dr. Terry Myers, begins in this issue.
DE has strengthened our relationship with the premier dental learning center, the Pankey Institute. Pankey will sponsor “Meaningful Profitable Practice” every other month with a different author for each column.
In early November, I attended “A Gathering of Eagles” in Miami. This was a three-day meeting sponsored by the Pankey Institute and produced by Dental Economics®. This was without a doubt the best meeting I have attended in recent years. I spent one day with Dr. Gerard Chiche and Dr. Avishai Sadan. They gave me great insights into how to treat many different cases.
The next day, I spent the morning with Dr. Pascal Magne and his brother, Michel Magne, CDT, who made a beautiful presentation that opened my mind to many other cosmetic treatments. In the afternoon, I listened to Dr. Urs Belser (Dr. Magne's mentor) from Switzerland, who also gave me many new ideas. Saturday morning was filled with Pankey Scholars, and the closing was given by the great Dr. Irwin Becker. I urge you not to miss this meeting the next time it is offered!
Joe Blaes, DDS, Editor — e-mail: [email protected]
Toll-free phone number: (866) 274-4500
