APS Invites More Technicians to Join, Attend Meeting

Society emphasizes value of collaborative learning environment

Collaboration among the entire dental team is more important than ever with the increasing utilization of digital technologies, and the American Prosthodontic Society (APS) wants to foster the team dentistry concept by inviting more dental technicians to join and attend its annual meeting February 25-26, 2016 at the Swissotel in Chicago, Illinois.

“On all different cylinders, we want to extensively open up our relationship in a more developed way with laboratory technicians,” says APS President Steven Sadowsky, DDS.

The APS, which began offering full membership to technicians in 2007, currently counts 26 technicians among its 380 members. That includes Vice President-Elect Todd Fridrich, CDT, who will be President in 3 years.

Robert Kreyer, CDT, who has been involved with the APS since 1996 and is a Council member for 2016, says he hopes more technicians take advantage of this opportunity to both network and learn at the highest level.

“For me, this has made a difference in my education as a dental technician and the knowledge I have in prosthodontics,” Kreyer says. “Dentists today ask for our opinions regarding various treatment planning options and other situations, and the only way we can answer these correctly is if we have the proper, literature-based information. Through these two amazing days of education at the APS meeting, we can obtain and absorb this knowledge.”

Dentists and technicians can collaborate any time, but APS Membership Chair Stephen Wagner, DDS, noted that the APS strives to create a unique environment.

“When a technician or a younger dentist calls me, I’m Dr. Wagner,” he says. “At the APS meeting, I’m Steve. That’s important. That evens the playing field in a personal way. I learn so much by talking casually or going out for a beer.”

The APS has revamped its website to foster more interaction and has been active on social media in that regard. The organization also is encouraging members to invite their technicians to join. The APS continues to honor one outstanding technician each year with the Kenneth D. Rudd Award. Additionally, this year a new APS-sponsored International Award will be given for the best clinical case, acknowledging a gifted clinician and technician.

“As prosthodontists, we know well the inextricable relationship that we have with our laboratory technicians in order to generate predictable success with our patients,” Sadowsky says. “To sit down next to your laboratory technician in a society meeting while learning state-of-the-art procedures supports a team approach to incorporating new techniques and materials, potentiating not only excellence but high morale in the office.”