The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) has issued a call for abstracts for its next meeting, scheduled for April 4 to April 6, 2019, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. ALD 2019 will focus on “The Laser-Systemic Connection: Lighting the Way to a Healthier Mouth and Body.” Potential topics may include:
- The use of lasers and light technology in today’s dental practice
- Scientific research
- Clinical tips and techniques
- Future applications
- Professional administration and growth for the entire team
“For decades, ALD members were the unsung heroes of oral-systemic health. First by applying laser technology to treat periodontal disease, and more recently by applying light therapy to help patients suffering from the oral mucositis side effects of chemotherapy,” said ALD executive director Gail Siminovsky, CAE.
“ALD’s mission is being met as our CE meetings provide an open dialogue in improving patient care. Laser use in TMJ, sleep apnea, and other medical conditions will all be included in the learning and discussion topics,” Siminovsky said.
Charles Whitney, MD, will be the ALD 2019 keynote speaker. As an advocate for bridging the oral-systemic gap, he specializes in heart attack, stroke, and dementia prevention and collaborates with dental clinicians to accurately diagnose and effectively treat periodontal disease. In his keynote, he will aim to help ALD attendees promote oral-systemic connections.
“I love watching the lightbulb go on in the eyes of my audience when they learn how to take the oral-systemic message to the streets,” said Whitney. “I hope I can help ALD members recognize that on a good day, they can save a tooth, and on a great day they can save a life!”
Whitney also has seen the beneficial effects of laser dentistry on his own patients. Recently, he referred one of his patients to ALD incoming president Mel Burchman, DDS, who successfully treated the patient’s chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis with photobiomodulation therapy.
“Securing Dr. Whitney as our opening keynote speaker will certainly set the tone for ALD 2019,” said Siminovsky. “Our goal for this meeting is to be the world’s go-to even where the entire dental team can learn how to bridge the oral-systemic gap using laser technology. That’s why we’re currently building a conference curriculum to support this goal and our laser-systemic theme.”
Online registration for ALD 2019 will be open on July 15.
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