One of North America's Largest Exhibitions of Dental Products Brings More than 30,000 Dental Professionals to Chicago

Companies from 45 Countries Showcase New Innovations and Technologies Aimed at Dentists and Consumers

CHICAGO, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 30,000 dentists and dental professionals will get a first look at the latest innovations in dentistry at the Chicago Dental Society's 144th Midwinter Meeting. Held February 26 through March 1 at McCormick Place, the Midwinter Meeting attracts dental professionals and more than 570 exhibiting companies from around the world.

The meeting is one of the largest exhibits of dental products in North America and one of Chicago's top conventions. The 2008 conference generated more than $53 million for the local economy, according to the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.

The Midwinter Meeting showcases new innovations and technologies aimed at dentists and consumers. Some of the newest products unveiled at this year's meeting include:

• Smile Reminder, a healthcare communications service, debuts a new software program that allows dentists to capture testimonials from happy patients as they leave the office and post it to community video sites, like YouTube. (with the patient's permission, of course!)
• First developed for patrons of piercing parlors, H2Ocean's mouthwashes contain salt and a special enzyme that aid in healing sores and cuts in the mouth. They're now being marketed to help with abrasions caused by braces or incisions from dental procedures.
• Novalar Pharmaceutical's Oraverse reverses the numbing effects of dental anesthetic, so you can get back to drinking, eating and talking like normal faster.
• The Safety Toothbrush has a special design so even the tiniest baby hands can hold and learn to brush their teeth (don't forget -- tooth decay can start with the first tooth).

Visitors to the Midwinter Meeting will not only have the first peek at an array of new dental products but will also have the opportunity to attend more than 200 scientific programs, including approximately 38 hands-on programs, covering topics like periodontics, sports dentistry, dental care of special needs patients and how yoga can help with the type of repetitive stress injuries that dentists are often prone to.

"The Midwinter Meeting continues to be the hub for information-sharing among dental professionals in the U.S. and around the world," says Chicago Dental Society President Dr. David Kumamoto, DDS. "While we understand that it is a challenging economic time, the Chicago Dental Society remains committed to helping dentists continue to deliver quality and accessible oral care for all patients."

The Chicago Dental Society also conducted its sixth annual member poll to learn more about their opinions on topics ranging from how often dentists floss their own teeth to most annoying patient habits. From the more than 300 members who answered the fall 2008 survey, the society learned:

• Dentists brush up and often. More than 30 percent of dentists surveyed brush more than three times a day. And half of dentists brush the recommended twice a day.
• With the recent economic crisis pinching wallets, more than 60 percent of dentists surveyed report that their patients are putting off costly cosmetic procedures. More than half say their patients are putting off needed dental work. Visits for preventative dental care are also on the decline according to more than 40 percent of dentists.
• Julia Roberts leads the pack for most requested celebrity smile, according to dentists surveyed. Men seek Brad Pitt's smile the most; in 2006, Tom Cruise had that starring role. Other frequently requested famous smiles include Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, Tom Cruise and President Barack Obama.

Established in 1864, the Chicago Dental Society counts more than 4,300 members in the Chicago area, making it the largest local affiliate of the American Dental Association. The society advocates for improving oral health care in this country and represents the interests of its members and the public they serve.

SOURCE Chicago Dental Society