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Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | February 2012XX XXXXX Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | October 2014A2 FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF By David L. Hoexter, DMD, FACD, FICD Editor in Chief Reflections this time of year may evoke a simulacrum of dental meetings with innovations, such as the presentation of new techniques (revived and modern- ized from dental cosmos publications) or new-again computerized mechanisms to treat patients. Perhaps it may evoke the excitement of seeing our kith and colleagues once again, while laughing over past experi- ences. Usually, large gatherings of den- tistry are destined to place in large, new convention centers. We may recall previ- ous meetings held in large hotels, warmer and more personal, and reminiscent of some personal history. Now, large dental meetings command large convention halls, acquiring more economic support. These convention cen- ters have different size rooms that are adaptive to different crowds, computer- ized luxuries that detail all that we need to know without asking questions, and details of where and who will be present- ing, and which group is actually meeting and at what time. Still, they are imperson- al and all-consuming. I inquire, while reading the myriad list of organizations listed at our meet- ings, “Where did all of these initials come from?” Societies, study clubs and state organizations — state ones next to na- tional, adjacent to international, with so many initials. While the daylight disappears earlier, there is a slight coolness in the air, and the excitement of seeing friends grows once again, I think of hugging a class- mate, a teacher, a lost colleague, and it brings a smile as a leaf starts to descend. The article “Alphabet Soup” I had written previously with enthusiastic reception, is being republished in this edition and per- haps will be published annually until the ocular rift dental meeting inundates our dental assemblies. Recollections of seasons past and present Publisher & Chairman Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com President & Chief Executive Officer Eric Seid e.seid@dental-tribune.com Group Editor Kristine Colker k.colker@dental-tribune.com Editor in Chief Dental Tribune Dr. David L. Hoexter feedback@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor U.S. and Canada editions Robert Selleck r.selleck@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor Sierra Rendon s.rendon@dental-tribune.com Product/Account Manager Humberto Estrada h.estrada@dental-tribune.com Product/Account Manager Will Kenyon w.kenyon@dental-tribune.com Marketing DIRECTOR Anna Kataoka a.kataoka@dental-tribune.com Education Director Christiane Ferret c.ferret@dtstudyclub.com Accounting Coordinator Nirmala Singh n.singh@dental-tribune.com Tribune America LLC 116 West 23rd St., Ste. #500 New York, N.Y. 10011 (212) 244-7181 Published by Tribune America © 2014 Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. Dental Tribune strives to maintain the utmost accu- racy in its news and clinical reports. If you find a fac- tual error or content that requires clarification, please contact Managing Editor Robert Selleck at r.selleck@ dental-tribune.com. Dental Tribune cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims or for typographical errors. The publisher also does not as- sume responsibility for product names or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Tribune America. Editorial Board Dr. Joel Berg Dr. L. Stephen Buchanan Dr. Arnaldo Castellucci Dr. Gorden Christensen Dr. Rella Christensen Dr. William Dickerson Hugh Doherty Dr. James Doundoulakis Dr. David Garber Dr. Fay Goldstep Dr. Howard Glazer Dr. Harold Heymann Dr. Karl Leinfelder Dr. Roger Levin Dr. Carl E. Misch Dr. Dan Nathanson Dr. Chester Redhead Dr. Irwin Smigel Dr. Jon Suzuki Dr. Dennis Tartakow Dr. Dan Ward Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criti- cism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Dental Tribune? Let us know by sending an email to feedback@ dental-tribune.com. We look forward to hearing from you! If you would like to make any change to your subscription (name, address or to opt out) please send us an email at c.maragh@dental-tribune.com and be sure to include which publication you are referring to. Also, please note that subscription changes can take up to six weeks to process. DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · US Edition Alphabet soup Proposed: Colorful communications By David L Hoexter, DMD, FACD, FICD, Editor in Chief A dilemma. We now have so many den- tal groups that we have almost run out of letters of the alphabet. As group after group abbreviates its name, we are at a loss to tell one from another without a scorecard. Either we need a new alpha- betical language or more exotic sound- ing dental organizations with as yet, un- used letters. History relates its alphabet beginnings to Mesopotamia, where early transcrib- ers used grooved lines on a bulla, or gourd-like container. These scratches of lines became the beginnings of written communication. Flashing forward to mobile communi- cations of today, where time pressures have abbreviated words, and we have a lingo all of its own: Abbreviating is a modern necessity. To begin with, you cannot tweet — under twittering rules — over a certain number of characters. Also, texting so- phistication requires not only abbreviat- ing, but also doing it creatively, to stump the recipient. Fortunately, having a college-aged daughter has given me a little heads up in this language. For example, CUL means “see you later” and POS means “parent over shoulder.” Everyone is in a rush — but to where? Tired thumbs? And com- munication stands in line behind speed. There is a definite division, albeit not a sharp one, between the Baby Boomers and the computer generation, sometimes alluded to as “nesters.” Whereas Baby Boomers enjoy direct personal commu- nication, nesters prefer computer com- munication. Abbreviations then become even more important. We are running out of letters to distin- guish the plethora of dental organiza- tions. A rebus should represent a mean- ing, or a riddle perhaps. The ADA, for example, stands for American Dental As- sociation. But, it could also represent the American Dermatological Academy. At least the GNYDM, representing the largest dental meeting in the U.S., has unique letters in its title and will not be confused with any other group. There is also the ERA mini implant, not to conflict with the ERA in baseball. By the way, has anyone ever seen a maxi im- plant? Between the AACD, ASDA, AADE and AAID, one wrong initial and you’re in the wrong state or country and have to pay new dues. The ESC, Eastern Society of Cariology, must not be confused with the ESC, European Society of Cardiology. The idea of written language is to give unique connotation to words. Abbrevi- ating these words with initials not only obviates the communication, but makes it confusing. Abbreviations have become the teratogen of communication. To help ameliorate this confusion I am proposing a Hoexter’s Index (HI), which will not only speed up communication, but will satisfy tweeters and texters alike. I propose that we assign a color to every dental specialty. For example, I suggest burgundy for general practitioner, red for periodontics, green for implants, yel- low for oral surgery (and maxillofacial), orange for ondodontics, blue for esthet- ics, black for pathology, gray for dental materials, pink for orthodontics and pe- dodontics, and brown for prosthetics. This way, each respective group would be required to use that color in its ini- tials. When publicizing an AO meeting, we would recognize that an AO meeting was for the Academy of Osteointegra- tion, an implant group, as compared to an AO meeting, which would be for Al- pha Omega, a dental fraternity group. Also, we would know that AAP represents the American Academy of Periodontics, which would not be confused with the AAP, or the American Association of Prosthodontics. Unfortunately, unless we have a color chart, we will be just as confused, but it will be much more col- orful. This is only a suggestion, and any thoughts or other solutions would be re- ceived and considered for publication as well. There is an obvious problem. Let us communicate and help correct it. To conclude, Rodney Dangerfield, the famous comedian, once described his son eating alphabet soup that his wife, a horrible cook, had made. The boy sepa- rated letters to spell “HELP.” Let’s help our profession abbreviate with colorful understanding. OK? David L. Hoexter, DMD, FACD, FICD, is director of the International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics, and a clinical professor in periodontics at Temple University, Philadelphia.HeisadiplomateofimplantologyintheInternationalCongressofOral Implantologists as well as the American Society of Osseointegration, and a diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Hoexter lectures throughouttheworldandhaspublishednationallyandinternationally.Hehasbeen awarded 11 fellowships, including FACD, FICD and Pierre Fauchard. He maintains a practice at 654 Madison Ave., New York City, limited to periodontics, implantology and esthetic surgery. He can be reached at (212) 355-0004 or drdavidlh@gmail.com. Dental Tribune graphic created at www.wordle.net

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