Just a quick post this week as I prepare to head to Chicago (after a brief stop in my hometown of Charlotte, NC to say hello to my friends at Your Marketing Practice) for the Midwinter Meeting.  Even in an IDS year, I expect the 2015 CMW to be full of product launches, innovations, and, of course, friends, new and old.  My visit will be a little condensed, but here are a few items on the agenda about which I’m pretty excited.

In 2014, Brasseler launched a number of new products.  Among them, at Chicago Midwinter, they’ll show the new DiaComp Feather Lite intra-oral composite polishers and DuraBraze diamond instrument technology.  However, my sources tell me they have a big announcement planned for the meeting.  So, mark your calendars for February 26 to hear what news the folks at Brasseler have in store.

Hu-Friedy is expanding their line of surgical instrumentation.  At the meeting they will showcase 4 new instruments developed in partnership with Dr. Sasha A. Jovanovic.  These new instruments – sinus lift, mini bone chisels, and a bone condenser – will be highlighted at their booth, #3405.  I’m also excited to be visiting the Hu-Friedy factory for a tour while I’m in the Windy City.

The Midwinter Meeting will serve as the launch pad for a new company, Anutra Medical, and its innovations in buffered local anesthesia delivery.  Less pain equals big gain, so a visit to their booth is a must-do item on my list.

And speaking of no pain, Convergent Dental has a big announcement planned for Chicago Midwinter.  On the heels of big news at the Yankee Dental Congress, it seems the manufacturer of the Solea dental laser is on a roll.  I’ll be visiting their booth to talk again with CEO Mike Cataldo and see firsthand their latest innovations.

In the giveaways category, stop by these booths to get your swag on.

• Aspida will be giving away a free pair of Beats Studio Headphones and a Bose Sound System at booth #4232.
• OperaDDS will give a life-sized replica of their mascot, “Wolfgang, the problem-solving monkey” to the first 400 to sign up at their booth.

Lastly, a trip to Chicago would certainly not be complete without a visit to LMT LAB Day.  My friends from DOCERAM Medical Ceramics will be stateside for the meeting as they continue the global launch of their Nacera brand of highly esthetic zirconium oxide materials for full contour restorations and frameworks.  Nacera represents an innovative combination of beauty and strength, and they are excited about expanding North American distribution.  They will be actively meeting and evaluating distribution partners at the show.

It will be a whirlwind couple of days, but would you expect anything else from the Chicago Midwinter Meeting?  Hopefully I’ll see you there.

Thank you for reading.