President's Report
President's Update
January 2009
As we start the 2009 New Year, I want to wish each of you an exciting year of practicing implant dentistry. Dental implants have provided such a positive benefit for patients. The AAID continues to be the number one resource for implant education for general dentists and specialists. This year Dr. Sherman Lin, a general member, is on the Membership Committee. We also have 12 specialists on various committees representing oral surgery, periodontics and prosthodontics.
For your information, AAID-supported legal efforts are moving forward in Florida. There are two Florida Dental Board disclaimers that dentists who practice implant dentistry are required to place in their advertisements and business cards:
“THE AAID IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A BONA FIDE SPECIALTY ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION BY THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION OR THE FLORIDA BOARD OF DENTISTRY”
“IMPLANT DENTISTRY IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A SPECIALTY AREA BY THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION OR THE FLORIDA BOARD OF DENTISTRY”
The case is set for trial in February.
Attacks on the right of appropriately trained dentists to provide implant services are also coming from private organizations. The Institute for Dental Implant Awareness (IDIA) has been aggressive in a campaign stating that the public is best served by the team approach to implant dentistry. They advocate that oral surgeons and periodontists are the patient’s best choice for treatment. Both the AAID and the Academy of General Dentistry will work together to make sure that the IDIA is not advocating to exclude general dentists from performing implant surgery and limit the privilege only to oral surgeons and periodontists.
The planning is well under way for the 2009 AAID Annual Meeting to be held November 11 – 15, 2009 in New Orleans. Many more spouses and guests at our annual meeting are attending the Wednesday and Thursday night receptions as well as the four continental breakfasts. This year we will be initiating a Spouse/guest registration fee of $190 to help cover these expenses.
When Dr. Norman Goldberg and 12 other dentists started the Academy 58 years ago, the majority of our membership was from the United States. International members have become very important to our Academy. In 2008, international members numbered 400, representing 64 countries or 11.6% of our membership. We have Maxicourses® in India, South Korea, and the Education Committee has approved a new Maxicourse® for Iran. As our Academy continues to provide programs and gain recognition around the world, it is important for all members to have more knowledge of the workings of AAID’s Global Committee. It will meet this spring to update its strategic plan. Each year new names and faces on the main podium bring us implant education from around the world. Computer technology has made the world a click away. As we continue to implement web broadcasting at our annual meetings, international and U.S. members who cannot attend the meeting will be able to view the meeting on their computer. We need to continue in this direction to stay on the forefront of implant education.
In addition to the Annual Meeting in New Orleans, November 11 – 15, 2009, there will be two other AAID-sponsored meetings this year. An international meeting will be held in Acapulco, Mexico from May 28-30. The theme is “The Exotic Side of Implant Dentistry.” Details and registration information is on the AAID web page. The Northeast District will be holding their meeting in Boston June 11-13.
The enclosed attachment gives you the impressive list of speakers who will be on the main podium In New Orleans, November 11-15.
If you have any thoughts or questions about how the Academy can better serve you please don’t hesitate to contact me at bevodunn@comcast.net or 561-784-6734.
With kind regards,
Beverly Dunn
President