The CDS had their annual Midwinter Meeting last weekend. It used to be one of the biggest dental conferences in the country, but my impression was that it was smaller this year. There were a lot of attendees, but it seemed like there were less exhibitors and less course offerings. I could be wrong but...perhaps it's just a sign of the times.

I took one all day course on "Real World Dentistry". I was interested in this course because I know the lecturer is a high quality dentist and of course also because I practice real world dentistry every day.

He did have some good ideas. But I wonder how much "real world dentistry" this lecturer does. He's part of a multi-specialty group in Georgia that does a lot of implants and cosmetic work. Perhaps their style of practice has been impacted by the recession; perhaps they aren't getting as many of those 10 unit porcelain veneer cases, and this makes them think they are qualified to talk about real world dentistry.

Because as it turned out, he didn't talk about THAT MUCH real world dentistry. He did have some excellent tips for doing anterior composite (tooth colored) direct restorations. He had some interesting ideas about preparing anterior teeth for crowns, too. But the course evolved into a lecture about large cosmetic makeover cases. They're very cool to see, in the hands of an expert, what a difference can be made in someone's smile. But frankly, I don't get a lot of patients willing to plop down 20 grand for a cosmetic makeover. Even 4 grand for a four crown/veneer makeover.

Plus I think their practice gets a lot of referrals from dentists around the country who send them complex cases of patients who have the means to travel to get work like this done. (Yes, there are patients who will fly to Florida, California, New York, or even Atlanta or Chicago (maybe) to get one of the experts in dentistry to do their restorative dentistry.) I haven't had to arrange for transportation from O'Hare to my office in a long time. Well, actually, I never have had to do that!

In any case, he did have some technique pearls that may come in handy someday.

We were hoping to be in a position to purchase the technology to switch over to digital radiographs and perhaps even go paperless in the office, but while I intend to do it this year one way or another, I don't find myself in a position to do it right now. So I contented myself with supply purchases. I bought a couple small pieces of equipment to replace some stuff that's just run out of gas over the years. But those were long overdue.

Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame did the private show at the Park West for the CDS. We went to this concert and walked away favorably impressed. Good show for a 64 year old. He can still sing. And he had a killer band. He and Styx are feuding over something or other; they don't like him and he's not fond of them either or so it sounds. There's some bitterness there that came through a couple times during the night. But DeYoung still put on a good performance.

All in all, a good meeting.

*****