12 exhibitors Greater New York Dental Meeting — Dec. 1, 2019 A rare treat of a symposium By Javier de Pisón, Managing Editor, Dental Tribune Latin America n In the crowded field of dental events, where many can look alike, the expertly organized 2019 Glide- well Dental Symposium is a rare treat that plays by its own rules. More than a thousand dentists seemed to agree when they met Nov. 8-9 in Orlando, Fla., at the Hilton Bonnet Creek & Waldorf Astoria hotel for the third annual Glidewell Dental Symposium. Praised for its clinical, educational and networking values, the sym- posium offered interesting lectures, short and to the point, which allowed for the inclusion of up to 14 speakers per day. Meanwhile, the Panel Discus- sion sessions allowed attendees to ask questions to speakers immediately following presentations, providing a direct and interactive communica- tion platform between attendees and experts. In his opening remarks, Jim Glide- well, president and CEO of Glidewell Laboratories and Glidewell Dental, described how he founded at his home, almost 50 years ago, what is now “the largest dental laboratory in the world with a staff of 5,000 employees.” The CEO of the Newport Beach, Calif.-based company, added that Glidewell has also “become very large in research and development” and in finding ways to provide less expensive crowns for patients of all economic strata. “We are trying to do crowns for everybody,” he said. While the company has evolved into a leader in the development of cutting-edge dental materials, prod- ucts and digital design systems like “glidewell.io,” this didn’t stop Jim Glidewell from walking around the exhibit area all day, where he made himself readily available to attendees who wanted to ask him questions, another sign of how different the Glidewell Dental Symposium is from other dental events. Neil Park, vice president for clini- cal affairs and editor of Glidewell’s “Chairside” magazine, jump-started the symposium with a summary of the event’s scientific program, includ- ing lectures by dental leaders, such as Jack Hahn, Carrie Webber, Paresh B. Patel, Anamaria Muresan, Ran- dolph R. Resnik and David Hochberg, among others. Lectures were comple- mented by an intensive program of hands-on workshops. The issues discussed provide a clear picture of the forward-thinking way in which Glidewell approaches dentistry. They included varied top- 5 An attendee checks out the ‘glidewell. io,’ a digital design system that integrates intraoral scanning data, intuitive digital design and suggestions for milling materials, during the 2019 Glidewell Dental Symposium. (Photos/ José Antonio Rosario for Dental Tribune) 5 Above, a view of the exhibit area at the 2019 Glidewell Dental Symposium. 3 At left, Glidewell President and CEO Jim Glidewell, with his wife, Parvina, at the 2019 Glidewell Dental Symposium. Here in New York For more information on any Glidewell technology or products, or to check out dates for the next Glidewell Dental Symposium, stop by booth No. 4414. ics, such as “Mill it Chairside or Send it to the Lab?”, “Digital Dentistry: Much More Than Crowns,” “Getting Your Patients to Say ‘Yes’ to Big Cases,” “Full-Arch Implant Restora- tions for GPs” and “The Emergency Implant,” by Keynote Speaker Jack Hahn, known for his Hahn Implants System. Attendee Ivan Quintana, who prac- tices in Sacramento, Calif., and par- ticipates in many dental meetings and events, said: “I have never seen such high-quality speakers in one day.” Quintana praised the presentations, saying that they were “very scientific and didn’t mention sponsor compa- nies, like they do at other events.” Tampa, Fla.-based clinician Nico- las Nieto agreed, saying it was an “excellent” event. “It’s well-organ- ized, and the topics discussed were very good.” As for the products on exhibit, he said he liked “the new bone-graft regenerative materials” of the Newport Biologics line. The exhibit area showcased a large array of materials, products and advanced new technologies. Account manager Jesse Hernandez explained the digital design system “glidewell. io,” which he calls Glidewell’s newest innovation in digital technology. “It allows clinicians to provide same-day dentistry, along with the most reliable materials, like BruxZir, which is the number one zirconia on the market right now,” he said. This advanced design software seamlessly integrates data input from the intraoral scanner, guides the clini- cian step-by-step through the digital design process of the restoration and suggests the best material to mill it in the most efficient way, he said. All of this can be accomplished in two hours, according to Hernandez, who added the system is very intuitive and easy to use. Advances in the new material BruxZir Esthetic Solid Zirconia allow this material to be used in the esthetic zone due to its high translucency. However, at the same time, it’s also strong enough to be placed in the posterior zone of the mouth. Clinicians, in fact “can do three- and four-unit bridges without fear of fracture or that it would not blend in with the surrounding teeth,” said Muresan, clinical research director at Glidewell. This type of zirconia, which comes sandblasted from the lab, can also be manufactured thin enough so it’s not bulky on the teeth, she said, but strong enough so it can be placed without the worry of fracture, if applying with strong pressure. The use in the esthetic zone of BruxZir Esthetic is due in large part to the inclusion of yttrium, a material that adds a natural-looking trans- lucency to zirconia. According to Muresan, results of a three-year clini- cal trial show high esthetics in the anterior zone, durability and also an easier and more reliable procedure for bonding. Materials like obsidian ceramics, the Hahn Implants System and a line of products to reduce snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, like the Silent Nite mouthguard, were also presented at the symposium.