ADA SmileCon — Oct. 11, 2021 from page one 3 About the Publisher Tribune America, LLC 118-35 Queens Blvd., Ste. 400 Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375 Phone: (212) 244-7181 E-mail: info@dental-tribune.com www.dental-tribune.com 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 Managing Editor Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune. com Product/Account Manager Humberto Estrada h.estrada@dental-tribune.com Product/Account Manager Maria Kaiser m.kaiser@dental-tribune.com Client Relations Coordinator Leerol Colquhoun l.colquhoun@dental-tribune.com Accounting Department Nirmala Singh n.singh@dental-tribune.com Published by Tribune America © 2021 Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. today American Dental Association Show Dailies, Vol. 13, appear during the American Dental Association’s SmileCon 2021, from Oct. 11–13, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tribune America makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturers’ product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Tribune America or Dental Tribune International. NEW 7from page 1 speakers and hot-off-the-press con- tent. Welcome to SmileCon. “Let’s be honest — 2020 was a tsu- nami of uncertainty, but we rode out those waves and landed on sunnier shores. And now we’re going to an oasis in the desert,” 2021 Meeting Chair Dr. Charles McKelvey wrote in his welcome message to meeting attendees in the preview guide. “SmileCon will be the incubator of dentistry’s future, with new ideas propelling our industry forward to heights we have never reached,” McK- elvey said. At this year’s ADA, education is being presented with more fun in mind, and there’s a brand-new exhibit hall as well. But first, some ground rules. To enter the meeting, all attendees must show proof of COVID-19 vac- cination or negative test results. All unvaccinated attendees must receive a negative COVID test within 48 hours prior to arrival and check-in at SmileCon to receive their credentials. “At-home” tests will not be accepted. Approved tests include either an anti- gen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Based on the current requirements by the state of Nevada, both vacci- nated and unvaccinated individuals must wear masks in all indoor public places. Masks will be required during all SmileCon functions regardless of location. Masks may only be removed briefly when actively eating or drink- ing. Masks will be available for any- one who needs one. The Opening Session, being held today from 8 to 9:30 a.m., will be a celebration of the dental community. In a year of unforeseen obstacles and unwavering resilience, the American Dental Association hopes you choose not to be afraid of the future but to embrace what lies ahead — together. The opening keynote speaker is Michelle Poler, a creative and pas- sionate social entrepreneur whose work has been featured on “The Today Show,” CBS and CNN. Poler will show you how to deal with the unknown, step outside of your comfort zone and embrace change — opening a world of opportunities for you. Also today, a New Dentist Recep- tion will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ADA’s newly redesigned exhibit hall — Dental Central — is designed to be the epicenter of your SmileCon experience, the main hub of activity where community, inspiration and business meet. Dental Central is open today (Mon- day) from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For a complete listing of all the meeting’s events, check your show guide or download the official app, which can be found by searching for “ADA Events.” SABATÉS 7from page 1 knows how it really feels to be an outsider, who has climbed the profes- sional ladder with the help of many, and who knows very well that now is his turn to make all dentists “feel that the ADA is part of their family.” I think he’s uniquely qualified to lead ADA because he is committed to listening to what he calls a “diversity of thought,” because he acknowl- edges that a lot of people helped him along the way in his long journey, and because, as a result, he’s really happy with his life, his family and his career. And now he’s ready to give back. That journey started in Cama- guey, Cuba, where he was born 61 years ago and where his father was a well-regarded dentist. After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the family was not allowed to leave for the United States until 1967. In the U.S., the Sabatés landed in Florida. César studied electrical engi- neering at the University of Miami, but soon after he decided he wanted to be a dentist and enrolled in dental school at University of Missouri in Kansas City, from where he gradu- ated as doctor of dental surgery (DDS). Some time later, he moved back to Miami and opened his private practice, which he built little by little, with the help of mentors such as the dentist and art collector Dr. Arturo Mosquera. He joined Hispanic dental organizations such as the Ameri- can Brotherhood of Latin American Dentists and the Latin American Academy of Osseointegrated Dental Implants. He was elected president of the Florida Dental Association, then member of the ADA House of Delegates and later on member of the unites us. And I want them to feel that the ADA is part of their family, as it has been part of my family for most of my life. Caring is very important to me. I believe it’s part of my Hispanic culture to make people feel welcome, and I take great pride on that. I’ve already started working on that as president-elect, meeting with all the presidents from the different state dental associations. I started with a platform of welcoming, invit- ing them to give their opinions and thoughts, so everyone would feel that they are valued and respected. And that is very important to me, not only the diversity of culture, but the diversity of thought. I think that it makes us better dentists and dental associations. That is something I started encour- aging and I will continue to do throughout my presidency and hope- fully will be able to get people closer together. What do ADA members need at this moment? To be quite honest with you, dentists need to know that there is someone out there for them. COVID-19, as you know, isolated all of us, some of us were quarantined, and we were not able to see our families or friends. So what dentists need is someone to lean on, someone to be the guide for them, to know everything is going to be okay and that we have ways to prac- tice safely. If they need a resource for information, if they need a kind word, a shoulder to cry on, they have to know that they can reach out to us, that we have each other to get through these difficult times. One of the things that COVID-19 8see SABATÉS, page 4 5 As the first Cuban-American president of ADA, Dr. Sabatés hopes to inspire Hispanic students to become dentists and leaders in their communities. ADA Board of Trustees, before he ran for president. During our conversation, he emphasized repeatedly that, beyond all our differences, what all of us have in common is dentistry. He knows this well because, as he told me, “I fell in love with the profession in dental school, and I have been in love with the profession since then.” In the following interview, you can feel Dr. Sabatés genuine love for dentistry in his meaningful answers to my questions, which are far apart from the usual runaround you get from elected leaders in all walks of life, from politics to dentistry. One of your main priorities as ADA president will be to make sure everybody feels welcome in the association. How are you going to accomplish that? I want to make sure every dentist knows, that no matter what color or nationality they represent, that they are dentists first, and that is what