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AAO Review ORTHO TRIBUNE | MAy 201012 devices and practice management software as well as the hundreds of other products you commonly think of in association with orthodontics and the running of a practice. But there were also a lot of prod- ucts you might not necessarily asso- ciate with the daily duties of your job but would still go a long way to ensuring the success of your practice. One of these products was found at Lips Inc. (www.lipsinc.com). Jodi and Warren Levine were offering lip balm in 30 flavors, from the famil- iarity of peppermint and strawberry to the more exotic blueberry pome- granate and white cranberry. But why exactly would you need lip balm for your practice? Because these lips balms come with your own customized label, essentially making them a unique business card your patients will not only carry around with them but can also use on a daily basis. Over at PracticeGenius (www. practicegenious.com), the focus was on keeping patients happy. The company has created the indus- try’s first web-based marketing and communication application, and it promises to be fun and rewarding for you and your patients. Basically, with a personalized membership card you give to them, your patients can earn points for seeing their dentist regularly, for being on time and for taking such good care of their braces they don’t need to schedule any emergency visits. Patients can earn prizes, which they can redeem online, and you can earn their loyalty. Another way to earn loyalty, with patients or staff members or even referring dentists, could be found at Whiter Image (www.whiterimage. com). Keith Rodbell, founding part- ner, sold out of his Chic-Flic toGO pen the very first day. The pen, which is a tooth whiten- er on one end and a lip plumper on the other, could make a memorable referral or thank-you gift, recall gift, post-treatment whitening package or a standalone marketing center, and it costs much less than retail whiteners and lip plumpers. Product launches Because the AAO comes around only once a year, many compa- nies use it as an opportunity to debut new products. This year, Opal Orthodontics (www.opalortho dontics.com) presented RPM, a comprehensive philosophy for orth- odontic treatment. Developed by Dr. Richard P. McLaughlin, RPM unites advanced orthodontic education with inte- grated products designed to support an advanced orthodontic manage- ment philosophy focused on pre- cise, predictable and patient-cen- tered outcomes. The RPM philosophy is a com- prehensive approach to orthodontic management, ranging from diag- nosis and treatment planning to the finishing and retention stages of treatment. In development of RPM, McLaughlin set out to com- bine orthodontic education with the most advanced pre-adjusted appli- ance prescription available today, the Avex Suite, as well as with Opal Orthodontics’ VIA Wires and Opal Seal, all with the goal of long-term oral health for the patient. MacPractice (www.macpractice. com), a developer of practice manage- ment and clinical software for Macs, iPhones and iPads, also debuted a new product — the MacPractice DDS MS (multi-specialty), which came with orthodontist-specific features. The software features everything an orthodontist needs to run a prac- tice, including contract billing, elec- tronic insurance submission, chart- ing, digital imaging and interfaces to orthodontic-specialized imaging analysis and treatment-planning software. An additional benefit for those who share office space with a den- tist of another specialty, such as a pediatric dentist, is that both clini- cians can share a single database without having to have two separate programs. Fun and games For some AAO attendees, walk- ing the exhibit hall offered more benefits than just checking out the newest gadgets out there or get- ting in some exercise; they walked away with a variety of prizes. Ortho Classic (www.orthoclassic. com) gave away a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Henry Schein (www.henrys- chein.com) and Dentaurum (www. dentaurum.com) gave away iPads and DENTSPLY GAC (www.gacintl. com) gave away gelato. Imaging Sciences (www.imaging sciences.com), though, gave away the biggest prize of all: Dr. Steven Appel won an i-CAT. As an established orthodontist, Appel said he is now ready to dis- cover and implement new methods of treating patients. “I am 58 years old, but I like to think that I am the old dog that can learn new tricks,” he said about the i-CAT. “This was certainly one of the tricks on my list to learn.” Put on your thinking cap The exhibit hall wasn’t the only place that saw a lot of action dur- ing the AAO. So did the classroom. There were a variety of new course topics, including an examination of how stem cells and tissue engineer- ing may impact the future of ortho- dontics, a look at current issues sur- rounding oral bisphosphonates and a discussion of the issue of access to orthodontic treatment. Other topics included the use of aligners, clinical guidelines for miniscrews, the past and future of imaging, esthetics, practice man- agement and orthodontics for adults. One highlight was a special risk management program that focused on common concerns at the begin- ning of an orthodontic career. There were also a variety of educational presentations found almost hourly on the exhibit hall floor. Next year’s AAO will take place May 13–17 in Chicago. OT f OT page 1 Warren and Jodi Levine at the Lips Inc. booth. Mark Hollis shows off MacPractice’s different uses, including an iPad version. Suzanne Wilson, brand manager for Opal Orthodontic, discusses the new RPM phiposophy. Dr. Steve Appel, winner of an i-CAT from Imaging Sciences International.