Aloha to all attendees from around the world who have gathered here in Hawaii for AACD's 25th Anniversary celebration! We are happy to host you this week and hope you enjoy an incredible week of learning, networking, and celebrating! Please post your comments about the scientific session on this blog throughout the week - I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your experience. Eric Nelson AACD Director of Communications

From all indications, the scientific session is off to a great start! Dewitt Jones gave an incredible presentation this morning...Dare to Dance. Courses are running with lots of energy and insight. Keep your eye out for Mike Russell and his video camera around the Hawaii Convention Center. We will be posting videos in the blog soon. And please, share your comments and experiences while here in Hawaii. Eric Nelson AACD Director of Communications

Wednesday has been another beautiful day for the AACD in paradise! Colt Munchow opened the morning with a rousing story of courage and inspiration. Courses and hands-on workshops have been packed with attendees eager to learn about the latest advancements in the field. Much more still to come this week, including Thursday night's Chefs of Aloha event, an opportunity to sample fine delicacies from the biggest rock star chef's on the Islands. All proceeds benefit AACD's Charitable Foundation and Give Back A Smile. Have fun this week! Eric

Aloha Eric! Wish I was there. Sounds like you guys are having a great time enjoying the lectures, music, food, and friends. I hope to be in Texas with you all next year. Please send my regards to Larry Addleson and his lovely wife Carolyn and to my dear friend Nancy from Athena Marketing.

Aloha! The AACD Charitable Foundation team is having a great time at the 25th Anniversary AACD Scientific Session. The general session Wednesday morning focused on giving back and I want to thank all of you who volunteer. The silent auction has been very successful. Finally, our Celebration of Smiles event takes place tonight at Level 4, Waikiki’s newest upscale nightclub. Tickets are on sale at the AACD Registration Desk until 6:00 pm. Those of you in Hawaii, I hope to see you there. Like they say in Hawaii…Mahalo. Lisa Fitch AACDCF Program Manager

Aloha! I cannot even begin to tell what great experiences the AACD Meetings for us always are. And how they really did transformed our professional and personal lives on such a short period of two years. Hope we can one day "Give Back ... with ... a Smile" !!!

I was asked to volunteer to be a new member mentor this year. I've had the chance to speak with at least four new members who have never attended before. To a person they have all expressed to me how impressed they are with this meeting and the quality of people and the education here. At these meetings it always reminds me how the AACD sets the bar for cosmetic dentistry, subepr education and great networking. Well done to all and already can't wait for next year!

There is not a better meeting in dentistry. Every year our expectations are exceeded by a staff at AACD that is truly passionate about doing a class "A" act. The feeling at the meeting everyday has been positive, exciting and interactive. I hope that everyone that was not able to join us this year can make the commitment to be there in Grapevine, TX. It will be "THE" event not to miss! Thanks to everyone who help to organize the success of this year's meeting. Aloha.

Even after 24 years, I still have the same feeling on this last day of the meeting. As I left the convention center today, I again felt that lonely and sad feeling that the meeting is coming to the end....at least for this year! The education and cameraderie that the AACD offers in incredible. I spoke with a prominent dental educator on the bus bus back to the HHV who just attended his first AACD meeting. He said he has never attended such an incredible meeting filled with education, social events and opportunities to make new friends. He said he will spread the word about the AACD and can't wait to attend next year's meeting in Texas.

Aloha to you all! This was my very first meeting, although I've been a member for a few years. I was amazed at how much effort went into this meeting. You all went out of your way to make me feel welcome and appreciated. Everyone was amazingly friendly, approachable and helpful. I am back in New Zealand now and am already looking forward to seeing all my new friends again. it makes me feel proud to be even a very small part of this academy!

I have been attending the meeting for last couple of years,It has been fantastic,except this year the quality of Food,even not providing the coke cans,but water to fill from water container,and even quality of lecture. Looks like AACD was hit by recession,I think cosmetic dentist are cream of the crop of dental profession,and we are not HMO practices,and cutting costs like that ,does not send a good message. I wish it could be more classy. I flew from east coast brought my four assistant to attend the best meeting,but we were all disappointed. Even one trade show guy tod me,they are not providing water bottle,instead advising the water jug,like advising to patients composite venners instead of empress. That is my opinion,I dont know what is yours?.

I am a dentist from Saudia Arabia. I will visit SanFransisco in Jully and Augest. I wish to attend any activity about esthetic dentistry ,or fisit famous dental offices there. Can you help me ?.Thanks

Well, I for one had a great time! At one of the lunch tables in the exhibit hall one new member even asked if the food at the meeting is always this good! All of the lectures I attended were very educational and well attended. The hospitality was great everywhere and the meeting was run very well. Thanks to all the AACD staff and member volunteers who helped out at the meeting this year. See you in Dallas in 2010!

As always, this year's meeting has inspired me with new ideas and techniques that I can't wait to implement in my practice. Yes, the economy did seem to affect this year's meeting. I noticed that this year's attendance at the vendor stations were low. Usually I would have to wait in line to view some vendor stands. Two things I missed this year: the wine tasting that MAC Veneers have hosted in the past, and keeping the vendors open until late in the day. In past years, I would spend an afternoon visiting all of the vendor booths. I was unable to do that this year, since exhibit hall closed at 2:30 daily. I am curious if that was an AACD decision or if that was the decision of the Hawaii Convention Center. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this year's meeting. I was fortunate enough to bring my EFDA (expanded function dental assistant) to this year's meeting. She said " I now know why you have so much energy when you return to the office, and you can't wait to try new things. " She was also inspired with new ideas to share with our remaining staff members. I was very happy that there were plenty of team members at this year's meeting, as well as plenty of courses for them to participate in. The best part of this year's meeting was meeting other members. My assistant shared a wonderful story with me that I would like to share with all of you. She was sitting next to an accredited fellow and a new member at one of her lectures. The new member explained to the fellow member that he had wanted to join the organization for years but "his friends" said not to because "all they want is your money". He shared that he finally joined and learned that "his friends" were soooooo wrong. The new member explained that everyone has been so friendly and helpful-- the comraderie is amazing-- and he is so glad he joined. My assistant said, they were both very sincere about the organization. My assistant and I also experienced some sincerely emotional moments at this year's meeting. Both of us absolutely loved this year's opening session speaker, Dewitt Jones. I plan on sharing his story with the rest of my staff and patients. As you can see from the length of my blog, we experienced so many wonderful moments at this year's meeting. In the past, I could only afford to go to meetings biannually. After hearing Debra King's lecture on Friday, I WILL be attending annually. I have promised my staff that they would all get to go to a meeting-whether I take one at a time or everyone. They are all looking forward to experiencing the BEST DENTAL MEETING in the world!!!!! See all of you in Texas!!!! Rita Tempel, DDS, Gettysburg, PA.

If Dr. Bushra Allahw wants to contact me via e-mail (bob@ideausa.net) or on my cell phone (++1-650-430-8234), I would be happy to make some recommendations as to the possibilities for visiting practices, activities about esthetic dentistry, etc. in the San Francisco Bay Area during July and August. I thoroughly enjoy the AACD meeting this year and every year. It is a great place to meet dentists and dental technicians who are passionate about their profession.

Just got home from yet another great AACD Meeting. Looking forward to next year in Texas !!!! As a response to Dr Allahw question: the IFED World Congress will be from August 2-5 in Las Vegas. For more info go to www.ifed2009.org. Or view at the private educators area on the AACD website.

The scientific session was Great! The networking and socializing with friends and associates was wonderful! I was excited to see that the leadership and the CAC had made such a big committment to the AACDCF. The leadership continues to set the example for the profession in vission and excution. Thanks to all of you for your tireless committment to the academy the results of which were at the session. Mike Forth

For me, attending the AACD annual meetings, like this year's in Hawaii, is icing on the cake both professionally and socially. What a fantastic time in terms of education available, networking with my peers, getting exposure to the newest dental technology, and creating and solidifying friendships! Having a primarily cosmetic practice in Orange County California has always been extremely rewarding for me though I lived in my own "bubble"! However, getting involved with the AACD and becoming a certified AACD Accredited Cosmetic Dentist has taken my practice and my professional career to the next level. The benefits of getting involved with the AACD has become infectious which lead me to founding the Orange County Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (an AACD affliate) and being nominated as a member of the Board of Directors. For those who attended, I hope to see you in Texas next year and for those who missed Hawaii, I can't encourage you strongly enough not to miss next year's meeting. By the way, don't forget that there will be a "mini" meeting this Nov 6th and 7th in southern California which, though it won't be on the scale of the annual meeting, will try to match the enthusiasm and quality of the annual meeting! Contact the AACD for more information or me at drringer@dentalcosmetics.com. Comment by Dr Jack Ringer, AAACD, AACD Board of Directors, Orange County, California, www.dentalcosmetics.com

I am a first time attendee and it was just superb, i have no words to describe right from the general session , to the scientific session to the various reception. Hats off for the team. I so proud that am a part ot such a big family. Coming all the way from India the whole thing was splendid. Got a lot a new friends all over the world. Will sure be in Texas

I would like to suggest that the AACD have an Assembly opening the conference, Not only the opening reception, but something on the first day before courses start; this way dentists from other country will know more about AACD, global view of the Academy, what's happening for that particular conference, and also dentists from another country ( special the ones that are first attending) will feel more welcome and more appreciated. Thanks.