Since its formation in 1993, the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) has been providing scientifically relevant, unbiased education and training on all laser wavelengths used in clinical dentistry.
Today, a quarter century later, we are unwavering in continuing our mission to oral health through laser technology. ALD promotes the wider adoption of lasers used in dentistry with a scientific approach to education, training, and safety.
While a silver anniversary sounds quite nostalgic, perhaps this milestone would be best described as our quicksilver anniversary. That’s because laser dentistry is evolving and improving at a rapid pace.
ALD’s annual meeting provides learning, discussions, and conversations about scientific approaches to clinical care by well-educated clinicians from around the globe. We invite regulators, dentists from all disciplines, academia, hygienists, and office teams to join in the conversations and learning.
We start with a focus on safety and tissue interaction. Understanding tissue interaction (chromophores) is at the basis of understanding lasers. Different lasers have different wavelengths, and each wavelength has different attractions to chromophores.
While there has been some debate regarding adjunctive laser use for more than 25 years, why not join ALD in Orlando to continue learning and conversing about successful laser applications together? Here’s a glimpse of the education:
- A discussion titled “The Straight Talk on Diode Lasers: Scientific and Practical Rationale for Clinical Dentistry, A Panel Session”
- A focus on the importance of early cancer detection
- A discussion of photobiomodulation (PBMT) in treating patients afflicted with oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy and the management of pain for suffering patients, possibly including investigational devices or treatments that have not yet received Food and Drug Administration approval or clearance for the specified clinical indications as well as off-label treatments or uses of these devices
- A focus on safe laser use by hygienists and the office team approach to clinical patient care and education
As in previous years, our annual session will feature laser certification training, networking opportunities, an exhibit hall, and lectures and workshops in the following areas of interest:
- General dentistry and everyday applications
- Implantology
- Periodontology
- Hygiene
- Endodontics
- Hard-tissue and soft-tissue applications
- Photobiomodulation
- Social media marketing
ALD 2018 promises to be the Academy’s biggest annual event to date and will take place April 26-28 at the Caribe Royale Orlando, Florida. For details and to register, visit laserdentistry.org/index.cfm/conference.
We would love to have you join us to celebrate our 25th anniversary, but perhaps more importantly, to kick off the next 25 years and to share with us the bright future of laser dentistry.
Ms. Siminovsky, CAE, is a leadership professional and executive director of the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD). She serves the ALD Board as an advisor. A graduate of SUNY Binghamton, she maintains the credential Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives. Also, she serves on ASAE’s Small Staff Advisory Committee and on the board of directors for the Florida Society of Association Executives. She is a member of the ADA’s Committee on Dental Meetings. She may be reached at siminovsky@laserdentistry.org.
Disclosure: Ms. Siminovsky is a salaried employee of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. She has no other financial affiliations or personal conflicts of interest.
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