After a year that saw many national dental conferences radically transform themselves, the ADA will take a different approach in 2021 with SmileCon, scheduled for October 10 through October 13, 2021, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
“As we look ahead to 2021 and beyond, I am delighted to present a new direction for the ADA annual meeting,” said Dr. Letitia Edwards, American Student Dental Association liaison to the Advisory Committee on Annual Meetings for ADA FDC 2020.
“Now, I want you to think about something that we dental professionals all have in common. Something that’s led us to where we are today. And that is smiles. You and your teams work so hard to care for them, and we think you should be rewarded with something that makes you smile, and our reimagined meeting will do just that,” she said.
According to the ADA, SmileCon will be built around participants, emphasizing their experiences and desires. Social events such as BrainDates, a buddy program, dine-arounds, and more will be designed to cultivate communities among those who attend, the ADA said.
The simplified continuing education course list will offer popular topics more than once, and topics not offered in 2021 will be featured in subsequent years to ensure a unique learning experience each year.
Also, SmileCon will focus on peer-to-peer learning and mentorship to nurture connections among attendees and take advantage of shared knowledge, the ADA said.
The exhibit hall will become Dental Central, a hub for connecting with the dental community during the event. Lounges and cafes will be located throughout the space to provide attendees with a relaxed atmosphere where they can congregate and network, the ADA said.
Also, Dental Central will feature more one-on-one contact with exhibitors and opportunities to “do” rather than “watch,” the ADA said, along with smaller stages for presentations that encourage group learning. These multipurpose “Smile Stages” will deliver continuing education content, industry updates, and dental trends in a more intimate environment, the ADA said.
Plus, attendees with a full continuing education schedule won’t have to worry about missing out on Dental Central, the ADA said, since it will be open when no CE is occurring to make it more accessible.
Registration for SmileCon will open in late spring 2021.
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