NEW DENTIST CORNER
SMILECON: THE REIMAGINED AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING GIVES DENTISTS A LOT TO SMILE ABOUT By: Sydney Rogers, DDS It was the American Dental Association’s first-ever “SmileCon”- the ADA’s annual session attended by dentists from across the United States reinvented in a creative, engaging platform. It was also my first-ever national conference to attend, and I couldn’t have been more excited to head to Las Vegas in October 2021. SmileCon kicked off with Oklahoma Dental Association leader, Dr. Daryn Lu, hosting the energetic Opening Session. Dr. Lu introduced the keynote speaker, Michelle Poler, who shared her thoughts on reframing our fears. Instead of asking, “What’s the worst that could happen?”. she instead asked, “What’s the BEST that could happen?” This session set the tone for the conference and got attendees excited for the next few days. That evening featured the New Dentist Reception which gave recent graduates a chance to connect in a less formal environment. I enjoyed speaking with a dentist out of Washington, D.C., about our mutual experience of working at a VA dental clinic. It was a fun opportunity to network with other new dentists from across the country. There was a range of continuing education opportunities from which to choose at SmileCon, and on the second day of the conference, I attended several informative sessions. I appreciated the diversity in presenters and presentation topics—ranging from technical, hands-on endodontic courses to lectures on improving quality of oral healthcare for patients with disabilities. It was simple to select courses to attend using the ADA smartphone app which was user-friendly and had the full CE course list for easy browsing. Colorful signage and event volunteers made finding classrooms straightforward. Even for a neophyte such as myself, it was a manageable task to attend the conference—and to get a lot out of it.
I was proud to be an Oklahoman attending the first annual SmileCon, and I appreciated how well-represented Oklahoma is at a national level. As Dr. Raymond Cohlmia was introduced as the new Executive Director, I realized how fortunate we are to be practicing dentistry in a state with a legacy of strong leadership within organized dentistry. Thank you to the Oklahoma Dental Association for the opportunity to attend the conference as your New Dentist representative! SmileCon was a worthwhile conference that was organized, approachable, and fun for dentists at every stage of their careers. Next year’s SmileCon will be held in Houston, Texas—an easy drive or flight for us Okies. I hope to see y’all there! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Sydney Rogers graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Letters before attending the OU College of Dentistry, graduating in 2017. She completed a General Practice Residency at the Oklahoma City VA HealthCare System, and after working an additional year at the VA, she moved back to her hometown of Enid with her family in 2019. She practices at Enid Family Dental. When not working, Dr. Rogers spends time with her husband and two children and enjoys playing the violin in her church orchestra and with the Enid Symphony.
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