Dentaltown July 2015 - (Page 16)

professional courtesy column Power Through Participation At some point in the future, historians will look back on this period of burgeoning online connectivity-the ability to instantly share knowledge, information and ideas-as a transformative era in the evolution of the dental industry. You are fortunate to be living in the early years of this transformation, and experiencing and influencing its reach and development. When Dentaltown.com launched in 1999, it was the first online forum of its kind made available to a profession that desperately needed to connect. For me, the most interesting thing about Dentaltown.com is how it gets increasingly better as Townies continue to share. Our website is simply the means to connect, and it is your contributions that make those connections grow and spread. The members of this worldwide community represent every continent on the planet, and the concepts, comments and even controversies shared on this forum improve the quality of dental care everywhere. Be proud that you help to create such a great resource! Making a difference today I am proud to share Dentaltown with everyone I meet, because people are always amazed by the information that is available to them wherever they can connect to the Internet. The magazine acts as a physical resource when circumstances or mood dictate a break from the computer screen. This particular issue of Dentaltown Magazine is our official invitation to spend a few more minutes online in the next few weeks: July marks the official launch of the Townie Choice Awards ballot. For the past 13 years, we have provided our members with a comprehensive ballot that lists the multitude of products and services available to help practitioners more effectively provide dental care to millions of people around the world. The purpose of this ballot is for you to identify your favorite products in multiple categories. Your vote is a simple way for you to share your opinion, and everyone's votes provide the entire Dentaltown community with valuable information: what works most effectively for us in our practices. Not only will you help your colleagues, but you will also have an opportunity to win some fabulous prizes. See page 100 for more details. Why it matters I recently had a firsthand experience of the power of sharing information with my fellow dentists. I gave my very first lecture to members of the Eighth District Dental Society in Buffalo, New York. I was honored by the attendance of a few of my former instructors from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, in addition to some of my former classmates. During the three-hour lecture, I shared many clinical cases from my practice, personal practice-management experiences, and content from Dentaltown.com, too! The questions and comments I received during and after the lecture left me with a real understanding of how important it is for us to share information with each other. Everyone has had an experience of sharing dental knowledge both in person and online (even if you've only recommended a brand of floss). I am proud to say that Dentaltown Magazine and Dentaltown.com are platforms designed for this express purpose. I hope you will take this opportunity to renew your willingness to share by completing your ballot online, and while you are there, comment on a case or answer a question. You will be amazed by what happens next. If you have a question for me or a topic you would like me to address in the pages of this magazine, send your notes to tom@dentaltown.com. If you like Twitter, look for @ddsTom. I look forward to you joining the conversation! ■ How has the Dentaltown community helped you grow as a dentist? Comment on this article at Dentaltown.com/magazine.aspx by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine 16 JULY 2015 // dentaltown.com http://www.Dentaltown.com http://www.Dentaltown.com http://www.Dentaltown.com http://www.Dentaltown.com http://twitter.com/ddstom http://www.dentaltown.com/Dentaltown/Article.aspx?i=393&aid=5456 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown July 2015

On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: The Sweetest Taboo
Professional Courtesy: Power Through Participation
Continuing Education Update
Digital Impressions
Tips for Hiring New Team Members
Probing Systems That can Make a Difference in Your Practice
The Six Ways Staff Incentives are Revolutionizing the Dental Industry
A Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Case
4th of July Emergency
Orthodontic Treatment in the General Dentistry Office
Industry News
TRIBUTE: DR. JOE STEVEN JR. The Story of a Legend, and the Legacy He Left Behind
TRIBUTE: DR. JOE STEVEN JR. Maybe We Should Ban Amalgam … a Profession Divided
TRIBUTE: DR. JOE STEVEN JR. Where are the Olives in Your Practice?
Why Mobile-First Really Means User-First
Continuing Education: Past, Present and Future Trends in Today’s Implantology
Airway Health: Dentistry’s Role in the Hidden Key to Wellness
Product Profi le: Accutron
Staff Pay and Rewards
The Whys and Hows of Adult Sedation Dentistry
A Review of “Uncomplicate Business”
Townie Choice Awards Product Showcase
Poll
Going the Extra Mile in Marketing
Ad Index
e.max—Matching a Dark Central
Product Profi le: Synergy
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown July 2015