Top 3 reasons to attend this year’s Academy of Laser Dentistry annual session

If you are using a dental laser or thinking about adding the technology to your practice, there are a lot of choices to make in terms of products, education and training.

But one of the best places to turn to is the Academy of Laser Dentistry (laserdentistry.org). The annual session, which this year takes place Feb. 5-7 in Palm Springs, Calif., provides a great educational experience on a variety of dental laser types and manufacturers, and allows dental professionals hands-on experiences as well as the chance to discuss laser usage with doctors who have varying skill and experience levels.

Webinar: How all-tissue lasers enhance the traditional dental model

The 2015 Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) Conference & Exhibition is Dentistry’s Laser Meeting and will be next month in Palm Springs at the beautiful Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa. More than 65 speakers will address the expected 300 dental professionals from more than 14 countries on every aspect of laser utilization in dentistry

Dr. Ed Kusek, a member of the ALD board and a practicing dentist with 10 years of laser usage experience, offers up his top three reasons why dentists should attend the meeting.

1.    Comprehensive coverage

Whatever the laser, a wide variety of lectures and participation courses are offered emphasizing the use of lasers as an adjunct in the various disciplines of dentistry. 

“Under one house you can get all kinds of different information about all the different lasers. It’s not just one specific company type laser, which is nice about it,” said Dr. Kusek, who has a practice in Sioux Falls, S.D. “There are things you won’t find in a lot of different venues. At ALD you’ll find out about low level laser therapy, about cutting teeth with a CO₂ laser, and erbium lasers, and there’s great pediatric portion as well. Doing tongue ties and lip ties...the newest and best procedures for doing that and post-op for babies that are having difficulty gaining weight or latching onto their mother’s breast for feeding.”

Drs. Fred Margolis and Larry Kotlow, experts in both lasers and dental pediatric care, are among the speakers. There also will be education covering lasers and orthodontics, endodontics and implants and more.

On-Demand Webinar: Understanding dental laser wavelengths and how they affect procedures

2.    The personal touch

“It starts from the very beginning to more advanced techniques,” Dr. Kusek said in reiterating the variety of courses as well as attendees. “The camaraderie is great. You’ll meet different people using different lasers, and you’ll also meet people using the same laser you’re interested in or currently using. You can learn what they’re doing differently that you’re not doing and vice versa. This meeting is always good for that.”

At ALD, it’s easy to get hands-on demonstrations from the exhibitors, participate in hands-on courses, and you won’t find a better place to network with clinicians just like you, as well as with clinicians who are using different lasers than you are and performing procedures that you may want to consider adding to your practice.

3.     Educational certification

Dr. Kusek started with the ALD standard proficiency and has since worked his way up through the various levels of certification. There is something for every dentist looking to increase his or her skills in laser dentistry.

“There’s educational means too at this event if they want to get certified in using lasers for a wide variety of procedures. That’s possible too.”

Additionally, at ALD CE courses are offered in Restorative and General Dentistry, Implantology, Oral Surgery, Periodontology, Periodontal Maintenance, Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Myofacial Pain Management with a focus on Low Level Laser Therapy Photobiomodulation, and Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis, plus updates on technology, special needs dentistry, and practice management round out the program.

The ALD exhibit hall offers the latest in dental products and technologies from 25 vendors, so attendees can grow their practice with education and networking through the Academy of Laser Dentistry. Visit the ALD website for complete scheduling information

For more information, call (877) 527-2776 or visit www.laserdentistry.org. You can also like ALD on Facebook, tweet @ALDTeam on Twitter, and/or connect on LinkedIn.