Re-connecting the tribe

The IDA’s Annual Conference is back live and in person in the City of Tribes this May, with the theme of ‘Re-connect’ one we can all get behind.

Pre-Conference Programme
Things kick-off on Thursday, May 12, with the IDA’s Pre-Conference Programme, where the topics for study and discussion include endodontics, aesthetic dentistry, crown lengthening, dental photography, compliance, and composite workflow.
Drs Aisling Donnelly and Greg Creavin will offer a half-day hands-on course running in the morning or afternoon on maximising success in endodontic treatment. Prof. Markus Blatz is offering a full-day lecture on the CAD/CAM ceramic update in aesthetic dentistry. Delegates can also avail of a half-day hands-on workshop from Dr Jim Grisdale in the morning or afternoon, on crown lengthening for predictable aesthetic and functional restorative treatment outcomes.
If you’re looking to improve your dental photography skills, Drs Minesh Patel and Ambrish Roshan will present a half-day hands-on course on the topic, also available in the morning or afternoon.
Achieving compliance takes careful attention to detail, and attendees can take in a 90-minute lecture at either 10.00am or 2.00pm on the frequently asked questions around compliance.
Dr Nik Sethi will present a full-day hands-on course on a posterior composite simplified workflow. The focus will be on rethinking cavity design, utilising heated composite, and a step-by-step hybrid injection moulding approach with final increment layering for efficient, stain-free, predictable and aesthetic restorations.

Conference Day 1
On Friday, May 13, the Conference proper begins with two programmes for delegates to choose from running simultaneously in different rooms. Starting things off in the first programme is Prof. Walter Renne, who will speak on how 3D printing can help you to develop the practice of your dreams. In programme two, Dr Jim Grisdale will look at the dark side of implants, covering complications and management.
The IDA’s GP Meeting will take place at 12.15pm and an update from Dr Markus Blatz on CAD/CAM ceramics in aesthetic dentistry will run at the same time. Dental Protection Risk Credits will be on offer for those who attend Dr Raj Rattan’s talk on ‘e-fingerprints – a review of the challenges of ethical practice’.
In the final session of the day in programme two, Dr Slaine McGrath will look at social media and how dentists can use it to grow their practice. In programme one, Dr Chris Griffiths will speak about the exhumation of mass graves and why it is important to do so. Chris previously worked in East Timor as part of a team recovering the bodies of the young victims in the Oecussi massacre. This talk will outline some of the experiences learned from uncovering these mass graves.

Conference Day 2
On Saturday, Drs Aisling Donnelly and Marielle Blake begin the programmes, with Aisling looking at how to predict, avoid and recover from endodontic mishaps, and Marielle examining the role for Invisalign in orthodontic practice. Throughout the day there will be talks on dental anxiety management from Dr Grace Kelly, restorative options for managing caries in primary molars from Dr Jennifer McCafferty, the re-classification of periodontitis from Dr Rachel Doody, and removing the barriers to successful dental care for autistic patients from Drs Gillian Smith and Jennifer Collins, plus much more.

Other activities
As always, a full trade show will be available to delegates, where conference sponsors will be able to show you their latest wares and guide you on what is best for your practice. The Dr Joe Moloney Award for an outstanding Irish presenter/lecturer at the Conference will be presented on the final day. The award is sponsored by the Dental Health Foundation and delegates will be able to nominate their presenter of choice. On the Friday, the Dr Tony Costello Medal will be awarded to a student or students from one of the dental schools. Students will produce a 10-minute table or poster demonstration on a subject applicable to general dental practice, and a winner will be picked by the judges.

Nursing Programme
Saturday will also see the Nurses’ Programme take place. Kelly Doherty and Patrick O’Hare of Safe Hands will kick the day off with a talk on the team approach to medical emergencies. Following this, Dr Eamon Croke will look at the basics of compliance.
In the afternoon, Dr Simon Shane will look at how money can be saved through the efficient maintenance and care of all of your practice equipment.
Closing out the programme will be Dental Protection’s Dr Noel Kavanagh, who will show how team involvement can lead to better record keeping.

Speaker
Prof. Walter Renne,
Medical University of South Carolina
Walter will be giving two presentations at the Conference, one on using 3D printing to develop the practice of your dreams, and another on where we are now with intra-oral scanners. Walter has spent most of his career in academia, and is Professor and Assistant Dean of Innovation and Digital Dentistry at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Walter started a digital dentistry programme and built a curriculum for undergraduate dental students 15 years ago. His was the first dental school to make same-day milling of restorations a standard of care. Every dental student graduates with at least eight single-visit milled restorations.
Walter is looking forward to the IDA Annual Conference, and says: “I’m really excited to lecture on what’s new with 3D printing, intra-oral scanners and milling. We’re practising dentistry in an incredible time where technology is causing an unprecedented level of efficiency and control. Dentists are able to do so much more in their office using the latest technology, which ultimately benefits patients. It’s my goal to show what’s possible and to inspire practitioners to take a second look at all the fabulous technology available”.

Speaker
Dr Slaine McGrath,
Slaine Smiles
Following graduation from Trinity College Dublin in 2012, Slaine moved to London where she worked at Harley Street Dental Clinic with some of the UK’s leading cosmetic dentists. In 2018, she started marketing cosmetic dentistry on Instagram and it transformed her career. Slaine says she went from doing general dentistry for whoever happened to walk into her surgery to having a 12-month waiting list in her own clinic. She now lives in Edinburgh, and splits her working time between the Scottish and Irish capitals. She has already established a clinic in Dublin, with one in Edinburgh opening later this year. Slaine will speak at the Conference on how to grow your practice with social media and hopes her talk will give practitioners the confidence to start advertising their work on Instagram. She says social media offers dentists more benefits than purely commercial ones: “I think social media has absolutely helped dentistry stay connected during the pandemic and has also built a community of dentists from all over the world, which would otherwise not have been possible. Via social media, I have a huge network of dental colleagues and friends around the world who I speak to regularly and refer patients to”.

Speaker
Dr Minesh Patel,
BUPA Dental Care
Minesh graduated with honours from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2009. He went on to complete a master’s in aesthetic dentistry in 2013 from King’s College London and was awarded Best Young Dentist in 2016. Minesh is the creator and teacher of the innovative and highly-popular f:ocus dental photography training brand and product line, which teaches dentists how to implement an excellent standard of photography, and to use it to fuel career development and improve clinical outcomes. Minesh says he will be bringing the f:ocus philosophy to the IDA Annual Conference via two half-day hands-on training sessions with live shooting demos, as well as a high-definition visual lecture in the main forum for all attendees to watch. He explains: “After uncertain times in dentistry due to the pandemic, f:ocus is here to help dentists reignite their professional passion and discover the aspects of modern dentistry that can be fun, rewarding and satisfying”.