IMPLANT TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Implant Newspaper · U.S. Edition SEPTEMBER 2020 — Vol. 15, No. 4 www.dental-tribune.com AAOMS to hold its first-ever virtual annual meeting this October By The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Staff In light of the COVID-19 pandem- ic, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) is offering the 2020 Vir- tual AAOMS Annual Meeting from Oct. 1 to 10. The meeting combines the educa- tional content of the association’s 102nd Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition and the annual Dental Im- plant Conference. The meeting’s live and on-demand educational sessions will provide greater flexibility for attendees to learn about the latest research in the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS). A community-oriented platform will fos- ter interaction between attendees and speakers. Held in conjunction with the Interna- tional Association of Oral and Maxillo- facial Surgeons, the meeting will feature several international speakers and focus on the theme of the “Digital Workforce: Improving Efficiency and Safety for our Patients.” Oral and maxillofacial sur- geons, faculty, residents and allied staff are expected to attend. Anthony S. Fauci, MD — director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infec- tious Diseases since 1984 — will speak during the meeting’s President’s Event. Attendees gather around Thomas Jefferson in the exhibit hall of the AAOMS Annual Session, held in 2019 in Boston. Photo/Dental Tribune File Photo He has served as a key advisor to six U.S. Presidents on AIDS and other health is- sues, including COVID-19. This virtual meeting replaces the AAOMS Annual Meeting originally scheduled for Oct. 5 to 10 in San Antonio, Texas, and the Dental Implant Confer- ence slated for Dec. 3 to 5 in Chicago. Similar to previous in-person AAOMS Annual Meetings, the educational con- tent will present clinical tracks that cov- er the scope of OMS practice: anesthesia, cosmetic, dentoalveolar, orthognathic, pathology, pediatrics and cleft, recon- struction/nerve, temporomandibular joint, and trauma. Sessions also will ad- dress timely topics to help enhance the OMS practice. To attend For more information or to register, head to AAOMS.org/AnnualMeeting. The Dental Implant Program will re- view enhanced dental implant content with four live sessions, three on-demand sessions and interaction opportunities. In addition, a virtual exhibit hall will display the most advanced products and services available in the OMS specialty. “With respect for the safety of our members and their staff during the COV- ID-19 pandemic, AAOMS decided to shift to a virtual format for its two annual fall meetings,” said AAOMS President Victor L. Nannini, DDS, FACS. “For more than 100 years, our mem- bers have expected the annual meeting to offer outstanding educational sessions to advance knowledge, provide opportu- nities for dialogue and showcase the lat- est products. We are pleased to still be able to hold our annual premier events, now in a virtual format that is expected to provide convenience and value to our members with consideration for their evolving needs.” Registration is open to AAOMS mem- bers, OMS residents, professional allied staff and non-members. More informa- tion is available at AAOMS.org/Annual- Meeting. AAID celebrates Dental Implant Awareness Month By American Academy of Implant Dentistry Staff September is Dental Implant Aware- ness Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). This year’s theme, “Healthy Mouth, Healthy You!” focuses on the health ben- efits of dental implants. “Dental Implant Awareness Month is a great opportunity to raise awareness about dental implants as a healthy re- placement for missing teeth,” said AAID President Bernee Dunson, DDS, FAAID, DABOI/ID. “Many people know that im- plants bring back beautiful smiles, but the life-changing benefits go beyond es- thetics. It’s important for people to un- derstand that they help restore overall health.” To kick off the month, the AAID launched a new public awareness cam- paign including an article and video to To learn more For more information on the AAID and Dental Im- plant Awareness Month, visit www.aaid.com. bring visibility to the long-term health consequences of missing teeth and the reasons why implants are a preferred re- placement option. When an individual loses one or more teeth, it causes other issues that may not be noticeable right away. The article and video provide an overview of the ben- efits — including how they help preserve bone structure, prevent gum disease, restore healthy eating habits and bring back confidence. Dental implants are more than an investment in oral health but also in physical and mental health according to the AAID. When performed by a skilled implant specialist, it is one of the safest, most precise and predictable procedures.