Dental scientists convene in Dallas

Did you know that teledentistry can help provide orthodontic treatment to disadvantaged children? Did you know that saliva can provide diagnostic clues to your systemic health? Have you heard about the new “biological clock” that links tooth growth with other metabolic processes?

These are but a few of the thousands of pieces of information which will be presented when the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) holds its 37th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, April 2-5, 2008, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

This year, nearly 1,300 scientific presentations will be made, divided among plenary/oral/poster sessions and symposia/workshops. Estimates are that over 2,000 dental scientists, educators, students, and practicing dentists will convene, representing the latest thinking in dental research.

In addition to the individual presentations, there will be plenary sessions, symposia, and workshops during the four-day meeting, dealing with special-interest topics ranging from improving the oral health of the elderly to advances in local anesthesia. There will also be a “Late-breaking News” session on Saturday morning, featuring nearly 20 exciting presentations on new discoveries.

Featured during Meeting Week will be the AADR/Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Products Hatton Awards Competition for student investigators. The presentations, in poster format, will be judged by top-level scientists. In addition to receiving cash prizes and plaques, winners will compete in the IADR/Unilever Hatton Awards Competition in Toronto, ON, Canada, in July.

The Opening Ceremonies and Awards Program, on Wednesday, April 2, will provide an exciting kick-off for the week's activities. Many awards and fellowships, including the 2008 AADR Distinguished Scientist Award (green section), will be presented.

The Distinguished Lecture Series will feature presentations by three eminent scientists:

• “Nanotechnology for the Enhancement of Human Health”, Jim Baker, Jr. [Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine & Biological Science (MNIMBS), Ann Arbor], 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 2
  
  
• “Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise in a Multi-institutional and Multidisciplinary Environment”, Milton Packer (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3
  
  
• “Genetic Control of Heart Development and Disease”, Eric Olson (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 4