Mad About Excellent Esthetic Dentistry
The 38th Annual AACD Scientific Session at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL, was a resounding success packed with networking, lectures, hands-on education…and fun!
We’ve all gone a little mad over the past few years, but perhaps not quite as mad as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)—that is, after COVID-19 concerns forced the cancellation of its flagship Scientific Session two years in a row. Instead of dwelling on the lost time, the renowned esthetic organization chose to capitalize on it. The highly anticipated 38th Annual AACD Scientific Session, which took place April 27–30 in Orlando, FL, kicked off with a blowout welcome reception called Wonderland: We’re All Mad Here.
“The atmosphere was just awesome, and people were so excited to see each other again,” said Jack Ringer, DDS, FAACD, a past-president of the AACD and current member of its Professional Education Committee. “The Wonderland event was a great way to ease people back into being face to face again in a fun environment where they could enjoy camaraderie and networking.”
A Wonderland of Esthetic Education
In addition to networking, the AACD is known for its worldclass esthetic education led by top educators in cosmetic dentistry. “While the AACD is very big on creating relationships and networking, we try to make the experience at the meeting not only friendly, but beneficial education-wise,” noted Dr. Ringer, who this year taught a workshop on electronic anesthesia.
Attendees were invited to participate in over 30 hands-on workshops geared toward learning different case types, and headliner general session educators Drs. Miguel Ortiz andCarlos de Carvalho delivered an exciting joint presentation on bonding esthetic restorations.
“There’s a fair amount of workshops and courses devoted to learning how to treat particular case types, such as a single central, 6 composite veneers, or a single implant,” noted Dr. David Hedgecoe, who attended this year’s Scientific Session. “It’s a mix of very specific courses that help you learn the sequence of how to treat a certain case, as well as other opportunities to dive into nonclinical topics like photography or practice management."
An Honor Worth the Wait
Becoming an Accredited Member has been a goal for Dr. Hedgecoe for nearly 2 decades. “After I went to my first meeting, I knew it was something I wanted to continue pursuing," he said. "I just loved it for the education and knew it was making me a better dentist. I realized that there’s more to it than just doing composites or beautiful porcelain—that it can be lifechanging for patients, too.”
What Dr. Hedgecoe could not have known back then was how late he would be for his very important Accreditation date. “My situation was a bit unique in that I was going to get my Accreditation in Orlando in 2020,” he said, adding that his entire dental team was excited to drive down from North Carolina to attend. After another cancellation in 2021, Dr. Hedgecoe finally took the stage this April at the annual black-tie Celebration of Excellence event, Bring Back the Magic, which honors the AACD’s newly Accredited and Accredited Fellow members.
“I think this past meeting held more of a special feel and energetic vibe to it than normal, especially having 3 years of Accredited members recognized in one meeting. You work so hard and when you get Accredited, it feels like that’s your meeting, that’s your baby,” he said. “But I think the education and the learning get ingrained in you. Even though this was my celebration meeting, I couldn’t help but want to learn something new and fi ne-tune my skills. That’s one of the underlying themes of the whole meeting—just trying to learn more and provide better care to our patients.”
Beyond Accreditation
While Dr. Ringer admits that Accreditation is what makes the AACD an incredibly unique organization, there’s plenty to love for general dentists, too. “In the roughly 40 years that the AACD has been in existence, around 600 dentists have completed Accreditation. Yet, over that same period, we’ve had thousands of dentists as members,” he said.
For Dr. Hedgecoe, immersing himself in the AACD has elevated his career to another level. “I think before my knowledge of the AACD, I didn’t truly understand what was possible to be achieved in cosmetic dentistry,” he said. “When you surround yourself with people who are the best in the world and who are just uber talented and willing to share their knowledge, to me, that’s a perfect mix and a perfect scenario for someone who wants to get better.”
