IDT Roundtable: Removable Prosthetics Returns

Bigger, better, and more collaborative—those were the goals set forth for the third annual IDT Roundtable: Removable Prosthetics, to be held Wednesday, February 19, in Chicago, Illinois.

After selling out last year, the IDT Roundtable will be held once again at Maggiano's Little Italy, but in an expanded space. Three panel discussions all will tie into the overall theme of "Next-Level Collaboration," moderated by Robert Kreyer, CDT, and Stephen Wagner, DDS. Audience participation is encouraged.

"The enthusiasm that comes with the new and fresh technology and materials available today will lead to great insights not only from the panelists but also from the audience," Wagner says. "We anticipate really powerful interaction."

While many of the newest developments are in the digital arena, Kreyer emphasizes that analog concepts will be discussed as well, and that the key is doing what is best for the patient.

"We can utilize the data from digital processes to improve communication on traditional analog denture processes," Kreyer says. "We want to talk about how we have collaborated in the past and how we can apply acquired data to take it to the next level—whether analog or digital. The same principles and fundamentals of prosthodontics remain the key to successful outcomes."

The IDT Roundtable will include a 4-hour open bar and a four-course, Italian-style family dinner. Once again, the only sponsors of the event will be Inside Dental Technology and the AEGIS Dental Network.

"We want a sense of purity where people can get together and discuss what they are experiencing and not feel like the conversation is influenced by any manufacturer," Kreyer says. "This event started because people wanted to gather at a bar on that Wednesday night in Chicago, and before long I had more than 50 people interested, so we created this roundtable."

The event will begin at 6:00 PM with registration and networking, followed by opening remarks from Kreyer and Wagner at 6:30. The first panel, "Clinical/Technical/Patient Education," will run from 6:45-7:30 PM. Dinner will be served at 7:30 PM, followed by the second panel, "Prosthetic Education," from 8:05-8:50 PM. The third panel, "Technical/Clinical Education," will be from 9:00-9:45 PM.

"Collaboration is extremely important in these full-mouth restorations, because we are replacing lost bone, tissue, and dentition as well as restoring the patient's confidence with the ability to smile, speak, laugh, etc," Kreyer says. "It is so much more critical now because removable prosthetics curricula have been widely cut out at universities, and also many technicians were choosing crown and bridge or fixed prosthodontics for many years. Understanding the removable prosthetics workflow is important, and all members of the team need to understand each other's needs, as well as the patient's."

Wagner says a key tenet of the event is that all members of the treatment team are equals and should learn together.

"Digital dentures offer a new start for us, and collaboration is absolutely essential to have an efficient digital workflow from clinical to technical," he says. "It is an opportunity to change the paradigm."

Despite the expanded space, seating is limited, so walk-ins may not be permitted. For more information and to register, go to cdeworld.com/idtroundtable.

PANELS

(Partial lists; more to be announced)

Clinical/Technical/Patient Education
Ryan McCall, DDS
Valerie McMillan, DDS, MS
Esther Schwenning, DD
Dora Rodriguez

Prosthetic Education
Daniel Alter, MSc, MDT, CDT
Lily Garcia, DDS, MS, FACP
Todd Young, LD

Technical/Clinical Education
Mark Samuel Chan, DD
Bob Colston
Charles McClemens, TE
Allie Williamson, AAS, BS, CDT-TE
Barbara Wojdan, CDT