Your AACD Board of Directors, along with the ABCD and the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee, traditionally use the Chicago Midwinter Dental show to gather in the Windy City and conduct Academy business. Maybe we’ll see you there!

The NewBeauty Daily Beauty Blog recently posted about practicing smart dental habits to ensure the procedures you've undergone last as long as possible. Read it here: http://bit.ly/zDtKMp

With 74 days and 16 hours remaining until the start of AACD's Washington, DC, conference, May 2-5, registrations are heating up. Will you be joining us? More here: http://www.netvibes.com/theaacd#Home

Yahoo! News and other media outlets have picked up this AACD-prepared release on whitening trends. Read it here: http://yhoo.it/AtkQbb

On Feb. 6, 1952, Dr. Thaddeus Weclew and several colleagues met in Chicago to create what would become the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). These dentists identified a vacancy in the dental profession—there was no established, consolidated source to provide dentists with continuing education (CE) opportunities. Happy anniversary, AGD!

Dental Products Report showcases the expertise of former AACD Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry editor and Accredited member, Dr. Michael Koczarski, discussing efficient posterior restorations. Read it: http://bit.ly/wkTIrt

180,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured in the creation of the structure, which equates to 18,000 concrete trucks. If these concrete trucks were to form a single line, they would completely fill one lane of the outer loop and another lane of the inner loop of the I-495 Capital Beltway that circles Washington, D.C. Will you be joining us for an awesome scientific session? More at www.AACDconference.com

In this blast from the recent past, Fox News reported that research suggests an extract of cocoa powder that occurs naturally in chocolates, teas, and other products might be an effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste. Read more: http://fxn.ws/z40wBZ

AACD Past President Dr. Mickey Bernstein, of Germantown, Tenn., raised $2,500 to support Give Back a Smile through his annual “Dance 4 Smiles” event. Read more: http://bit.ly/xMb8wD

And a reminder to see B. Kent Smith, DDS, lecture on Sleep Apnea topics at the 28^th Annual AACD Scientific Session in Washington, DC, May 2-5, 2012. Story here: http://on.wsj.com/yoPgon

AACD interviewed the man and the legend last year, and the two-part audio interview is available for your listening pleasure here: http://bit.ly/wSmFv9

Attendees of the 28^th Annual Scientific Session can see history come to life at the AACD's Welcome Reception at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The reception will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., giving members plenty of time to peruse exhibits featuring dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt, and the Hope Diamond, while enjoying complimentary beer and wine. For more information, click here: http://www.aacd.com/index.php?module=cms&page=1047

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Hollar and Dr. C. Lee Wyant who have achieved Accredited Fellow status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, an honor shared by only 50 other dental professionals worldwide!

From 1994 to 2010, the number of Americans 18 and older getting braces or some other teeth-straightening treatment from an orthodontist has jumped 58 percent, to 1.1 million, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Now the AAO is launching a national advertising campaign pitched primarily to prospective adult patients. Read the NY Times story here: http://nyti.ms/zj0qlj

New Beauty magazine’s Daily Beauty blog allows “online experts” to comment on stories adding richness and depth to the article, like the comments posted here: http://bit.ly/swn4zZ

AACDers Pinhas Adar, CDT, MDT, and Michael R. Sesemann, DDS (AACD Past President) discuss executing excellence through dental team collaboration in this piece from Inside Dental Technology here: http://bit.ly/yH8jou