After months of anticipation, Dentsply Sirona World 2017 has officially begun! This three-day event is the industry’s only educational festival, and those in attendance have now experienced the Dentsply Sirona difference.
The day started with the magnificent Opening General Session. With a ballroom submerged in darkness, LED light dancers wowed the audience with incredible illusions and captivating choreography. Immediately following, Group Senior Vice President of the U.S. Commercial Organization Michael Augins welcomed scores of people to one of the largest gatherings in dentistry. More than 7,000 people joined Dentsply Sirona in Las Vegas for this spectacular event; a record-breaking number for the company.
Throughout Opening General Session, industry titans Dr. Joshua Austin, Dr. Erin Elliot, Dr. Sarah Jockin and Dr. Cliff Ruddle offered a taste of what attendees could expect throughout this experience. New to General Session this year, Dr. Neal Patel performed lived surgery from the trade show floor just feet away while the audience watched via live stream.
At the close of Opening General Session, the vast trade show floor opened and eventgoers ventured the aisles, exploring the latest and greatest in dental technologies, products and services. In addition to top-notch exhibitors, the popular media panel was located on the trade show floor, allowing attendees to hear from some of the industry’s best.
The first group of Breakout Sessions opened for attendees in the early afternoon following lunch and the opening of the trade show. Sessions within 11 educational tracks were available throughout the afternoon into the early evening. Per tradition, attendees designed their schedules as desired and select the courses in which they were interested. Some chose to stick with one track while others selected courses within multiple tracks for a more comprehensive experience.
The second General Session, sponsored by Implant Seminars, featured Academy Award-nominated actor, producer and philanthropist Will Smith. Smith entered the stage ‘gettin’ jiggy wit it’ to a ballroom roaring with applause. One of the most popular celebrities of this generation discussed his climb to fame, and the successes and failures that steered the trajectory of his career.
As Smith reflected on an event in his childhood in which his father directed him to build a wall, Smith shared an inspiring metaphor on career growth: “Building a wall can be daunting, but if you focus on laying one perfect brick each day, the bricks eventually form a wall.”
Sponsored by Dental Product Shopper, the Welcome Reception- a wonderful opportunity for guests to network and socialize with peers- followed Smith’s session. Food and beverage were provided for guests as they geared up for the evening’s comedic entertainment.
Laughter permeated the ballroom as Jeff Dunham, a Forbes-listed comedian, performed his live standup for audiences later that evening. Dunham had his sidekicks in tow and re-energized the room after a full first day of Dentsply Sirona World. Dunham’s performance was sponsored by OperaDDS and included fan-favorite characters Walter, Bubba J, Peanut and Achmed, but not before he shared hilarious pictures from his past. Walter and Dunham’s satirical banter about dental professionals and the Ultimate Dental Meeting was perfectly tailored to fit the audience. Dunham’s performance concluded the first day of Dentsply Sirona World.
The sold-out Dentsply Sirona World is located at The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas and spans from Thursday, Sept. 14 to Saturday, Sept. 16. To learn more about this event and next year’s event, Dentsply Sirona World 2018, visit www.dentsplysironaworld.com.
