The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) was thrilled to provide dental students and dental school faculty with opportunities to attend and participate in its 33rd Annual AACD Scientific Session, April 18-21, 2017, in Las Vegas. These opportunities included a poster competition, a scholarship program, and an esthetic curriculum and student awareness forum for university faculty.

AACD Poster Sessions

The AACD Poster Session creates an outlet for students and junior dental faculty, along with clinicians and researchers, to share their scientific findings and to promote greater interaction within the dental community. The poster session includes two categories for undergraduates, post graduates, and junior faculty: clinical case submissions and material science submissions. The poster presentations are judged by a panel of AACD faculty members on-site at the annual scientific session.

The 2017 Poster Session Awards are as follows:

Undergraduate Clinical Cases:

1st Place: Peter Fredrickson, New York University, "Creating a Natural Smile Using Orthodontics and Lithium Disilicate Restorations."

2nd Place: Kit Ling Wong, New York University College of Dentistry, "Utilizing Erbium Chromium: YSGG Laser and Ceramic Restorations for Diastemata Closures."

3rd Place: Matthew Asaro, New York University, "Creating a Natural, Vibrant Smile with Minimally Invasive Feldspathic Porcelain Veneers."

Postgraduate Clinical Cases:

1st Place: Rawa Alammari, University of Iowa, "Canine Substitution: Minimally Invasive Management of Missing Maxillary Lateral Incisors."

2nd Place: Adriana Parra, University of Rochester, "Multidisciplinary Esthetic and Restorative Case."

3rd Place: Hamad Algamaiah, The University of Iowa, "Minimally Invasive Approach to Re-establish Esthetic and Function on Tooth Wear: A Case Report."

Junior Faculty Materials Science:

1st Place: Celin Arce, University at Alabama at Birmingham, "Retentive Strength at the Zirconia Implant Abutment and Titanium Base Interface with Different Surface."

2nd Place: Hiroe Ohyama, Harvard School of Dentistry, "Innovative Educational Tools: Digital 3D Technologies for Self-Assessment."

APEX Scholarships

Dental school students also can attend the annual AACD Scientific Session on an APEX Scholarship, which covers the cost of their tuition, airfare, lodging, and AACD membership for a year.

APEX Scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstrated academic achievement and their understanding of and commitment to the future of cosmetic dentistry. The deserving recipients of the 2017 APEX Scholarship included: Wassim El Awadi, University of Michigan; Omar Nijem, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine; and LaJoi Wiggins, East Carolina University.

These students attended the 33rd Annual AACD Scientific Session in Las Vegas to learn from the world's finest educators of cosmetic dentistry thanks to the following APEX Scholarship sponsors: Mickey Bernstein, DDS, AAACD; Hugh Flax, DDS, AAACD; Fred Peck, DDS, AAACD; and Ivoclar Vivadent (Rep: George Tysowsky, DDS, AAACD).

"Having the opportunity to meet and learn from world renowned leaders in cosmetic and restorative dentistry was career changing and has motivated me to take my skill set to the next level. I look forward to maintaining my membership attending future AACD conferences," said 2017 APEX Scholarship recipient LaJoi Wiggins.

"Attending the AACD Scientific session exceeded my expectations of what was possible at a dental meeting. What I learned at this conference changed the way I will approach dentistry for the better," added 2017 APEX Scholarship recipient Omar Nijem.

AACD University Educators' Forum

Additionally, as part of the AACD's University outreach program, representatives from 24 universities participated in the University Educators' Form (UEF) during the scientific session. Attendees to the UEF worked towards developing an esthetic curriculum and also participated in a hands-on workshop, which featured color and esthetic experts in the industry.

For more information about student membership and AACD student programs, including how to sponsor an APEX scholar, visit https://www.AACD.com/students.