AACD 2007: Cosmetic Dentistry's Showcase Event
BY ELIZABETH VARLEY CAMP, MAY 22, 2007
We attended last week's American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) annual meeting. It is the leading cosmetic dentistry event of the year, with roughly 5,000 dentists in attendance. There were over 100 clinical seminars and live patient-based procedure training; some that caught our eye included "Laser Assisted Cosmetic Dentistry: the 'Magic Wand' has arrived" and "You Can't do Veneers Until Your Patients Say YES!" Also of note, there was discussion of the "dental spa" concept, where the dentist's office would offer facials and other aesthetically-oriented treatments. Among the exhibitors were a plethora of companies offering courses for training GPs in treatments that allow them to upgrade their practices to include bigger-ticket procedures, including cosmetic ones.
With cosmetics representing one of the fastest-growing areas in dentistry, the AACD has grown from 200 dentists 10 years ago to over 7,500 members today. Cosmetic dentistry is growing at three times the rate of traditional procedures. Cosmetic dentists are sought-after customers of product and service providers, given the growth of their practices and the fact that these dentists are often greater consumers of specialized products, such as implants, which can cost in the thousands of dollars.
This industry is clearly still very young. Of the over 150,000 practicing dentists today, less than 5% are focused on cosmetic offerings with any regularity. Dental implants are growing today at rates in the high teens; cosmetic veneers are growing at 12%.
Ten years ago there were limited solutions for patients with an imperfect smile. Today, with whitening procedures, dental implants, veneers, and occlusion correction products such as Invisalign transparent orthodontics, patients can improve their aesthetic appearance dramatically. Shows like Extreme Makeover have also increased the profile of these types of solutions. Certain products are marketed directly to the consumer and have name brand recognition, such as MAC veneers and Invisalign. Financing options provided by patient financing companies have also put these products and procedures within reach for more consumers.
Cosmetic dentistry continues to grow. Our smiles will be brighter for it!
