Nobel Biocare became an AAWD Platinum Corporate Sponsor in 2004. Since then, the company has been a loyal and avid supporter of AAWD, providing speakers for our meetings, attending our annual conference, and most recently, signing on as an annual meeting sponsor for our 85th Annual Meeting to be held July 14-16 in Chicago. We spoke with Juli Ficke, vice president of marketing for Nobel Biocare, North America.
AAWD: Why did your company become a corporate sponsor of AAWD?
Ficke: Nobel Biocare recognized the importance of women in the dental industry. Currently, there are more than 30,000 female dentists, and by 2020, more than 50 percent of U.S. dentists will be women. Heliane Canepa, the president and CEO of Nobel Biocare, is committed to supporting the efforts of female dentists worldwide.
AAWD: What is the most interesting and important part of being involved with AAWD?
Ficke: It gives Nobel Biocare the opportunity to hear what is important to a specific segment of the dental community.
AAWD: Look down the road 10 years. Where is the dental industry heading in regard to women dentists?
Ficke: There is a trend toward an increase in the number of women who will be practicing dentistry in the United States. Approximately half of students currently in dental school are women. The potential impact that this will have on the industry is significant.
AAWD: Where are the important trends that have an impact on the AAWD community from your company’s perspective?
Ficke: Patients are demanding not only the best treatment, but also the best esthetic solutions for their dental problems. Cosmetic dentistry is growing and the ability of the next generation of dentists to embrace this trend as well as the focus on computer-assisted dental procedures will be important to the growth of the industry.
AAWD: What are three things you would like AAWD members to know about your company?
Ficke: Nobel Biocare is the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions and the first to offer dental implants more than 40 years ago. Nobel Biocare is a one-stop shop for products, training, and clinically documented treatment concepts. We also offer the finest all-ceramic, crown-and-bridge products in the marketplace. The company’s goal is to give dental professionals everything they need to give their patients the best quality care. We are committed to helping dentists grow their businesses, offering the finest training at the world’s leading institutes. Last year in the United States alone, we trained 74,346 people on everything from dental implants to CAD/CAM technology, which enables fully endentulous patients to receive new teeth in one hour. Worldwide, we trained more than 150,000 people in 37 countries and in 19 languages.
Stop by Nobel Biocare’s booth at our annual meeting and conference in Chicago. For more information about the meeting, logon to www.aawd.org. If you have questions about Nobel Biocare or the services they provide, visit www.nobelbio care.com. Thank you, Nobel Biocare, for all you do to help AAWD accomplish its mission of enriching and nurturing the diverse lives of women dentists.
