Yankee Dental Congress to Once Again Host High Tech Playground

Paul Feuerstein, DMD January 14, 20152 Mins read2.3k Views

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Trade shows can be intimidating to some buyers. Booths are full of attractive devices along with salespeople who are hoping to create new business. To some attendees, it looks like a minefield, with people popping out and saying, “Doc, can I show this new thing to you?” Yes, there are surely some aggressive salespeople at the shows, but most are quite professional and try to educate the dental consumer with the hope that he or she will choose their particular product. Still, the salesperson has an order form nearby…and often a pen in hand.
Five years ago in Boston, at the Yankee Dental Congress, its planners and I came up with a unique idea: to develop an expansive room on the exhibition floor called the High Tech Playground where exhibitors could present displays, demonstrations, and hands-on events, with no sales allowed. We have coordinated the display of as many as 60 products in this room during the 3-day event, and each half day has a theme such as digital impressions, digital radiography, lasers, digital diagnosis, and more. In the past, I have been asked to present lectures on each of these themes (one year doing 12 presentations), then direct attendees to various displays around the room, showcasing products representing the theme. Doctors and staff members can try these products and ask questions, with no order form in sight.
This year, there will be talks and product demonstrations continuously being offered from a podium inside the room. In prior years, CE credits have been offered; however, with newer guidelines from programs like the ADA CERP, it has become more difficult to comply in such a perceived commercial event (which it is not). While trying to restructure under these guidelines, instead of specific lectures, I will be moderating numerous podium product presentations, and representatives will be at tables in the area.
Additionally this year, many of companies participating in the event have donated prizes, which will be raffled off to those in attendance. Any attendee who wants to be eligible for the prizes must attend at least 4 table presentations and have his or her entry card validated with 4 signatures. Of course, we are hoping that attendees will see all participating companies’ offerings.

This Year’s Participants: