The 2016 Global Oral Health Summit Wrap-Up

Over 1,000 attendees went all in at the Global Oral Health Summit, held at Caesars Palace, Nov. 10-13. The Summit—an updated version of Carestream Dental’s previous dental, orthodontic and OMS users meetings—offered software training, courses on industry trends, exhibits, networking opportunities and social events.

At the Summit, attendees raked in the CE credits at courses that covered everything from advanced CBCT imaging to doctors’ and team members’ personal image and what it says to patients. As at past Carestream Dental meetings, expert trainers walked users through the ins and outs of CS SoftDent, CS PracticeWorks, CS WinOMS and CS OrthoTrac. Other popular sessions included:

• “Getting Patients to Want What They Need,” with Mark Setter, D.D.S.

• “Beyond the Expected,” with Debbie Best

• “Turn the Tables: Increase Efficiency with Shortcuts and Tips,” an interactive CS OrthoTrac workshop

• “The Odds Are in Your Favor! Admin 101,” focusing on CS WinOMS

• “The View from the Top,” with LeeAnn Peniche

• “What's New from CDC Infection Prevention?” with Jackie Dorst

The Summit also featured not one, but two keynote speakers. Former White House director of events, Laura Schwartz, kicked-off the Summit with her tips for networking, the perfect topic for this event that brought together general practitioners, orthodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Proceeds from the sale of Schwartz book after her keynote address went towards Clean the World, a non-profit organization that recycles discarded and unused hotel soaps and redistributes them to people in need of hygiene products. In fact, Summit attendees contributed to Clean the World’s efforts in more ways than one. The soap and bottles of shampoo attendees left behind after their stay allowed the organization to donate 320 bars of recycled soap and 192 bottled amenities to children and families worldwide.

On Sunday, Nov. 13, Eva Grayzel closed the Summit with her powerful story of surviving Stage IV oral cancer, as well as how practices could use their own personal stories to connect with patients.

In the evenings, the Summit social events featured drinks, food and, of course, Elvis and showgirls. A live band got attendees on the dance floor at the High Roller Reception, and doctors mixed and mingled at the Doctors Reception at the VISTA Cocktail Lounge.

Vegas is known as a city that runs on luck, but it took skill and strategy for attendees to compete in the Dentition Expedition, a unique feature of the Global Oral Health Summit mobile app that had participants answering questions and completing tasks to earn points. The winner, with 307 points, was Anna Renee Perry, of Orthodontics by Birth-Stewart & Fletcher in Keller, Texas. Perry won free registration to the 2017 Summit, as well as a plaque to proudly display in her practice.

Robert Patrick, global product line manager, director of practice management software, announced the location of the 2017 Summit—Orlando, Fla., at the Marriott World Center, Nov. 9-12.