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Discus Dental 10 Extravaganza Las Vegas May 2005
Discus Dentals' 10th Annual meeting was held in the luxurious Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas. The show kicked off with a brass band rendition of Star-Spangled banner at eight in the morning to which the crowd of three thousand stood to attention for 15 minutes. This is a true test of anyone's patriotism, especially if you're a jet-lagging Brit, but this rock an' roll Extravaganza had us enjoying every minute of the spectacle and over three days we were feeling the spirit of free-enterprise full force. I've never experienced a dental show like this. It was like a party made for dental expenses!
The founder of Discus, the now ubiquitous Dr Bill Dorfmann gave the same lecture with which he addressed the BACD in April which was entertaining. He also high-lighted some of Discus' upcoming products such as Zoom II and a full-arch triple tray, the Gripper depicted as a green frog in their marketing. The branding was strong through-out the show and showed Discus' commitment to be more than a whitening company with an emphasis on cosmetic dental products and marketing tools. The high-light keynote speech was Dr Phil and his claim that anyone with good health in the developed world who's alive in the year 2010 has an estimated life-span of 125 years! Perhaps a little optimistic but the thought of patients enjoying our cosmetic restorations till the age 125 is fulfilling. Cancer is expected to be a chronic as opposed to life-threatening disease in five years time.
Over the three days there were tens of presentations and short courses. The ones on Conscious sedation by Dr Silverman and Neuro Muscular dentistry by Dr Dickerson (of Las Vegas Institute) provided some academic weight.
Mostly the lectures were a mix of marketing, practice organisation and light-hearted anecdote from dental practice. If the purse strings were loose the exhibition hall sold dental marketing materials, books, manuals, dental materials and courses as well as website design and sedation equipment. Everyone was there to have fun and everyone I talked to was positive about what they did no matter how their practice was set up or the number of years in the profession.
Most dentists had developed an interest in photography, smile makeovers and professional and innovative marketing techniques. Bill Dorfmanns exposure of cosmetic dentistry on Extreme Makeover show to the general public accounted for a year on year thirty percent increase in cosmetic dentistry internationally.
The last night was a casual buffet dinner with free bar sponsored by a dental lab also live entertainments, comedy act and a live band and disco.
Would I recommend the extravaganza? Next year it's being held at Trumps newest hotel with keynote address by the Lord of real-estate himself. Never thought I'd want to hear the words 'You're fired' in person! |
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