Bahamas Dental Association’s 2008 Scientific Conference President’s Message

Welcome to the Bahamas Dental Association’s 2008 Scientific Conference!

Our mission is to make this conference the preeminent dental continuing education conference in the Caribbean. We believe that an exceptional scientific program, featuring accomplished academicians, clinicians and professionals, is the fundamental ingredient required to lend this degree of credibility to our mission.  This year’s stellar group of speakers, once again meets that criteria.

The BDA is acutely aware that recent scientific research has found correlations between oral disease and systemic illness, hence our selection of this year’s theme: Balancing Oral and Systemic Health to Achieve Optimal Health.

The past two BDA conferences have focused on “Raising the Bar in Dentistry – 2005 and Beyond” and “Modern Technology: Merging an Old Science with Emerging Technology”. In this my last conference as President, I am pleased that we have chosen a topic that focuses our attention on the most important facet of dentistry – the patient. We can never raise the bar in dentistry or effectively utilize emerging dental technology, if we leave our patients behind; unless we raise our patients’ oral health awareness, so that they too can emerge more enlightened. The best dentistry will always be done in communities of well informed patients.

We continue to be challenged by the public’s tendency to minimize the importance of oral health. However, it will be impossible for them to marginalize its importance, once they are educated about the negative systemic health implications caused by oral neglect.  The BDA’s new “Nothing Beats a Healthy Smile” television ad campaign is specifically designed to create the necessary public awareness.

As more and more of our patients present with chronic diseases being controlled by ever-increasing drug regimens, and a simultaneous increase in patient demand for invasive dental procedures such as implant retained prosthesis, it is certain that we will be increasingly reminded that oral health and systemic health are inextricably linked.

I would like to thank each and every one of you, members, non-member attendees, invited speakers and corporate sponsors for your support of the BDA. With your continued help, we will make many more positive strides through community service and collegial exchange.

It is my sincere hope that this conference will inspire us to always think systemically while working locally for the benefit of our respective patients, communities and countries.

Sincerely,

S. Andre Rollins, D.M.D.
Scientific Program Coordinator
President, Bahamas Dental Association