Professional Courtesy: Power Through Participation by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD



by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine

At some point in the future, historians will look back on this period of burgeoning online connectivity—the ability to instantly share knowledge, information and ideas—as a transformative era in the evolution of the dental industry. You are fortunate to be living in the early years of this transformation, and experiencing and influencing its reach and development. When Dentaltown.com launched in 1999, it was the first online forum of its kind made available to a profession that desperately needed to connect.

For me, the most interesting thing about Dentaltown.com is how it gets increasingly better as Townies continue to share. Our website is simply the means to connect, and it is your contributions that make those connections grow and spread. The members of this worldwide community represent every continent on the planet, and the concepts, comments and even controversies shared on this forum improve the quality of dental care everywhere. Be proud that you help to create such a great resource!

Making a difference today
I am proud to share Dentaltown with everyone I meet, because people are always amazed by the information that is available to them wherever they can connect to the Internet. The magazine acts as a physical resource when circumstances or mood dictate a break from the computer screen. This particular issue of Dentaltown Magazine is our official invitation to spend a few more minutes online in the next few weeks: July marks the official launch of the Townie Choice Awards ballot.

For the past 13 years, we have provided our members with a comprehensive ballot that lists the multitude of products and services available to help practitioners more effectively provide dental care to millions of people around the world. The purpose of this ballot is for you to identify your favorite products in multiple categories. Your vote is a simple way for you to share your opinion, and everyone's votes provide the entire Dentaltown community with valuable information: what works most effectively for us in our practices. Not only will you help your colleagues, but you will also have an opportunity to win some fabulous prizes. See page 100 for more details.

Why it matters
I recently had a firsthand experience of the power of sharing information with my fellow dentists. I gave my very first lecture to members of the Eighth District Dental Society in Buffalo, New York. I was honored by the attendance of a few of my former instructors from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, in addition to some of my former classmates. During the three-hour lecture, I shared many clinical cases from my practice, personal practice-management experiences, and content from Dentaltown.com, too! The questions and comments I received during and after the lecture left me with a real understanding of how important it is for us to share information with each other.

Everyone has had an experience of sharing dental knowledge both in person and online (even if you've only recommended a brand of floss). I am proud to say that Dentaltown Magazine and Dentaltown.com are platforms designed for this express purpose. I hope you will take this opportunity to renew your willingness to share by completing your ballot online, and while you are there, comment on a case or answer a question. You will be amazed by what happens next.

If you have a question for me or a topic you would like me to address in the pages of this magazine, send your notes to tom@dentaltown.com. If you like Twitter, look for @ddsTom. I look forward to you joining the conversation!



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