|
The ALD 2016 Conference Online Program is here!
|
|
|
|
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR CORNER
By Dr. Ed Kusek, Communications Chair
|
As I write the article, I am flying to the Greater New York Meeting. Again, ALD had a presence at the meeting, with Dr. Peter Pang giving the Standard Proficiency course. Last year, I was fortunate to speak at the Greater New York meeting and got to see how large the meeting truly is. I will be working on the ALD 2017 meeting, and working with vendors and exhibitors and getting vendors for the meeting in Tucson, Arizona.
|
|
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Spread the "Gospel"
Dr. John Graeber
Lasers Enlighten the ADA in Washington, DC
More than 100 ADA attendees participated in a record number of hands-on workshops and courses given by the Academy of Laser Dentistry members.
Educator Day Scores Huge Success!
More than 50 ALD educators and interested members attended the annual Educator Day program held in Orlando in October 2015.
This is the eighth annual program aimed at teaching and calibrating the ALD educators.
|
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Dental Meetings - Hotel Rates: Why Is It So Important to Book Through the ALD Designated Methods?
By Gail Siminovsky, CAE, ALD Executive Director
When you reserve a guest room and stay at the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) conference hotel, at the ALD-established guest room rate, you support the efforts of both ALD and the hotel to conduct a successful meeting, which requires use of extensive hotel meeting space and hotel staff over several days. Many convention booking terms and hotel concessions to ALD are negotiated based upon ALD attendee use of hotel guest rooms. This is true of all meeting planning throughout our profession and throughout the meetings- and convention-planning world.
|
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The 2nd Annual Qatar Study Club
The Standard Proficiency course was lead by ALD President, Dr. John Graeber. No wonder the student doctors were all enthusiastic to attend it! Dr. Manaf Taher Agha assisted with the hands-on training and presented a 2-hour lecture about All Tissue Laser.
There were 23 dentists in attendance, representing 10 different nationalities. Laser Dentistry knows no boundaries and still expanding.
|
ALD EXPANDS LASER EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
By Dr. Arun Darbar, International Relations Chair
We are pleased to announce the formation of an ALD Philippines Affiliate Study Club. In November 2015, the first laser dentistry Introduction to Lasers hands-on educational program was held in Manila, Philippines. The ALD held an "Introductory Course on Lasers in Dentistry" with Education Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Arun Darbar, also International Relations Committee Chair, and Dr. Raminta Mastis. As the key speakers, they were invited by Dr. Judith Del Rosario Yap, a local consultant for laser dentistry, and Dr. Maria Noemi Pato, the Chair of the Department of Hospital Dentistry at the East Avenue Medical Centre, which is the leading hospital in the Ministry of Health for Philippines. Drs. Darbar and Mastis supported the concept of establishing a Laser Centre and its educational foundation.
|
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Lunch 'N Learn at the University of Florida College of Dentistry
By Patrick Fitzgerald and Dr. Nancy Fitzgerald, DMD, BSDH
The Academy of Laser Dentistry recently sponsored a Lunch 'N Learn on "Laser Use in Dentistry" to dental students at The University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD) on October 15, 2015. Dr. Nancy Fitzgerald, DMD, BSDH, from Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, presented the introduction to lasers for the University of Florida dental students. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant professor and co-instructor for the ALD Standard Proficiency Certification course at Midwestern University. Patrick Fitzgerald, a fourth year dental student at UFCD and president of the Academy of General Dentistry Student Fellow track, organized the event with the ALD.
|
By Raminta Mastis, DDS, ALD Treasurer
What a great time we had in Orlando! Glorious, radiant sunshine contributed to ALD's continued celebration of the 2015 International Year of Light as we held our annual Education Day on October 16, 2015. Over 50 members convened at the Caribe Royale, the venue of our upcoming annual conference in April 2016, for the "Symposium on Lasers and Periodontal Therapy".
|
ALD WORKING FOR YOU
By Dr. John Graeber, ALD President
In July, the
Journal of the American Dental Association published an article entitled, "Systematic Review in Meta-analysis on the Non-surgical Treatment of Periodontitis by Means of Scaling and Root Planing With or Without Adjuncts" JADA 146 (7):508-524, e5).
The article prompted several ALD members and leaders, as well as the science and research committee, to write letters to the editor of JADA in support of the use of lasers as an adjunct. In December 2015, JADA published several letters to the editor in response to the July article JADA 146(12) 865-867. More work needs to be done and ALD stands ready to act in support of the safe and effective used for lasers in dentistry.
|
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTE NEWS
Science & Research Committee
By Dr. Craig Gimbel, Science & Research Committee Chair
For those who don't know you, what has been your involvement with ALD?
It's a rainy day and it's a good day to look back at how I got started in lasers in dentistry, and ultimately the ALD. In the 1980s, little was known or available in textbooks defining what lasers in dentistry were. The only textbooks were on engineering and later, lasers in medicine, such as ophthalmology. I was self-taught in lasers, of course, and found it very interesting; it took off from there. Before the ALD existed, there were Saturday afternoon meetings, after work, with a small group of dentists in the suburbs of New Jersey, which formed the Metropolitan Academy of Laser Dentistry. Later, I got involved in ALD in its early days and committed myself to chairing many committees including education, membership, and conference.
|
ALD 2016 NOMINATED OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
The Academy of Laser Dentistry will conduct its general membership business meeting on April 15, 2016during the 23rd ALD Annual Conference. Dr. Gabi Kesler, Nominations Chair and President-Elect, will explain the selection process for ALD directors and officers. Eligible voting members present in Orlando will be asked to submit their votes to accept the nominees who will serve in these leadership positions for the Academy of Laser Dentistry. The nominating committee puts forth to the general membership the following members as nominees for ALD board leadership.
Read the full announcement here and meet the 2016 nominated officers and directors.
|
THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
By Alex Kusek
This past summer, I had the opportunity, along with 20 of my University of Nebraska Medical College (UNMC) classmates, to participate in a week-long dental mission trip to Treasure Beach, Jamaica. The trip was coordinated through the Christian Dental Society and for some, it was a way to share their religion with the people of Jamaica, while providing dental services to those in need.
|
UPCOMING CE COURSES
STANDARD PROFICIENCY - Dr. Robert Convissar
View the complete ALD CE Calendar
here.
|
Have you read the latest issue of E-Waves, ALD's membership newsletter? If not, here's what you've missed:
|
|
|
Mention #ALDLasers in your posts.
|
|
|
|
