The BACD explains what you might have missed out on at the BACD Annual Conference.
The ACC Liverpool played host to this year’s exciting British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) Annual Conference, and the heart of the Albert Docks offered a perfect backdrop.
Inspiring change
As was emphasised throughout the conference, modern cosmetic treatments are not just about creating the perfect smile through aggressive and destructive preparations. In fact, ideal aesthetic outcomes can be achieved through minimally invasive techniques simply by taking a new approach and enhancing patient communication.
Dr Zaki Kanaan, outgoing president of the BACD, updated delegates on the BACD’s progress and contribution to the ongoing debates in the industry, including those regarding the General Dental Council (GDC), Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS contracts and units of dental activity (UDAs).
Educational opportunities
After Zaki’s official welcome on Friday morning, the conference then hosted an array of lectures offering an insight into a multitude of topics from clinical photography to minimally invasive techniques and digital solutions. Particular highlights of the day included Dr Christian Coachman speaking about digital smile design, who suggested that videos of the patient were important in addition to photographs, enhancing compliance and enabling the whole team to better understand the full facial aesthetics.
Saturday saw several more sessions covering a wide array of topics such as preventing tooth wear, vacuum forming and the All-on-4 treatment concept, as well as online marketing, website conversions, and practice growth.
In addition, the BACD Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held, where members had the chance to offer their own ideas and opinions.
Recognition
For practitioners interested in achieving BACD accreditation, a dedicated workshop, run by Dr Christopher Orr and Dr Don Sloss, provided the perfect platform to better understand the process.
Alongside the lectures and seven hours of verifiable continuous professional development (CPD) available each day, the conference also offered the chance to source innovative products and materials from the trade exhibition.
Make sure you don’t miss out
Being a member of the BACD offers a wealth of benefits including opportunities to learn from international speakers, as well as local training and first-class education. It also provides full members direct referrals from its website, boosting your profits by increasing the number of patients through your door.
Cosmetic dentistry is no longer about aggressive preparations for veneers and crowns – it’s about restoring natural beauty and function in the most minimally invasive way possible. As Miles Hilton-Barber said, you have to ‘dream big to achieve big’. Realise your dreams and those of your patients by raising the standard of your dentistry – join the BACD today.
For further information on membership of the BACD, call 0207 612 4166 or visit www.bacd.com.
