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Why the ODA’s Annual Spring Meeting is one of North America’s Most Respected Dental Conventions

The Ontario Dental Association’s (ODA) Annual Spring Meeting (ASM) has been a place for dentists and dental professionals in Ontario and beyond to connect and learn for more than 150 years. It has grown to be one of North America’s most respected dental conventions. We sat with Dr. Homa Jammehdiabadi, Chair of the ODA’s Education Committee, to learn more about the ASM and why it’s a great opportunity to learn and connect.

What makes the ASM one of the premier dental conferences in North America?

The ASM is a convention held each spring in Toronto, Ontario, that brings together dentists and their dental teams, dental students, industry experts, speakers and vendors for three days of learning, fun and networking. We welcome thousands of guests each year who are excited to learn from our knowledgeable speakers and hands-on workshops. They can also learn about the latest and greatest in dental innovation and technology on our Exhibits Floor. All this under one roof. One of the attractions is Toronto itself, which offers so much to do outside of the ASM.

Why should a dental professional attend?

We’re very pleased to offer more than 100 sessions and workshops on topics ranging from clinical topics to practice management to personal development. One of the biggest draws is the opportunity for them to earn continuing education (CE) credits for their professional development.

Beyond the learning opportunities, the ASM is a great place to connect with colleagues. This year our theme is Stronger Together. The pandemic physically drove so many of us apart, but now we’re able to reunite as a community to continue learning, networking and sharing ideas and best practices.

This year, we have an incredible keynote speaker in Dr. Frank Spear. He’s one of the world’s premier educators in esthetic and restorative dentistry and we know he’s an attraction to our audience, so we’re happy to be able to bring him to the ASM.

How many people attend the ASM?

During the height of the pandemic, we held the ASM online in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, we held our first in-person event since the restrictions eased and we felt it was safe to gather again. We had over 8,500 people attend last year’s event and we’re thrilled with the number of early registrations we’ve had so far for this year. While we’re not quite back at pre-pandemic levels of attendance, we’re happy with the upward trend as people become more comfortable with attending large gatherings again.

What’s new to this year’s ASM?

We’re always looking at ways to make the ASM better each year. This year we’re excited to have our first ever live patient stage sponsored by Dentsply Sirona, featuring Dr. Gary Glassman doing an endodontic procedure in the morning and Dr. Bobbie Chagger doing a restorative procedure in the afternoon.  This is a great opportunity to see a live patient procedure up close as the speakers narrate their way you through the various steps on the big screen.

This is the second year we’re offering our Best Value Package as an add-on to ASM registration. This allows attendees to watch 20 of the most popular ASM sessions (Category 2 and 3) after the event has ended. We offer more than 100 sessions and workshops for attendees to choose from, and they’ve told us they sometimes miss out on sessions they would’ve like to attend. By recording the more popular sessions and making them available online after the ASM, we’re giving our attendees the chance to see what they might have missed. It’s been very popular because dentists can earn more CE credits from these courses and watch them at their own leisure.

What else makes the ASM a must-attend event?

Our Exhibits Floor this year will feature more than 300 vendors. It’s a great place for our guests to learn more about the latest in dental technology, try the latest gadgets, meet with suppliers and other service vendors and make valuable business connections.

There are many other perks that come with ASM registration, such as our complimentary feature areas where attendees can take a moment to relax and recharge. We offer an oxygen bar, neck messages by professional massage therapists, and nutritious and delicious food samplings. We also like to make sure we end the day with some fun and food with a fantastic cocktail reception on the first two days of the show from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Our attendees are busy professionals and they set aside time from their busy practices to come to the ASM, so we work hard to give them a fantastic and worthwhile experience.