ATLANTA--President Bush wasn't the only one who made history during his recent visit to India. Three Atlanta dentists, internationally recognized as Team Atlanta Esthetic Dentistry, also made history with their three-day dental extravaganza.
Drs. Ronald Goldstein, David Garber, and Maurice Salama were featured speakers to more than 1,000 dentists at "Optimal Esthetics 2006" in Mumbai (Bombay), India.
A section of India's largest conference facility was transformed into a dental operatory for the conference, and a 60-foot video screen was specially created to give the attendees a close-up view of each live procedure and surgery. This technological experience was unlike anything ever before accomplished in India.
Drs. Goldstein, Garber, and Salama completed six lectures and seven live procedures on Indian patients in need of cosmetic dentistry. Due to the unprecedented number of live dental demonstrations at one conference, the event required several days and nights of on-site preparation.
When interviewed by Bombay's TV Channel 7 News, Dr. Goldstein admitted that a two-hour sightseeing tour of the city was their only break during the five-day excursion.
Dr. Goldstein launched the conference by teaching one-hour smile makeovers. Dr. Garber followed on the second day, and Dr. Salama conducted the grand finale on the third day by operating on a young man who was missing his two front teeth.
In less than two hours, Dr. Salama, aided by Dr. Garber, placed two dental implants in a very challenging case, and even placed permanent lifelike teeth on the implants. The patient actually received teeth in an astounding 90 minutes and was "all smiles" as he faced the audience of 1,000 impressed dentists.
Dr. Goldstein commented, "Seventeen of India's leading dentists and assistants helped us perform the smile makeovers for some extremely difficult dental cases."
Although this was the Atlanta doctors' first visit to India, many of the Indian dentists were familiar with Dr. Ronald Goldstein from his books, Change Your Smile and Esthetics In Dentistry, which have been translated into many languages and are sold on every continent.
Asked by the television news reporter about the status of Indian dentistry, Dr. Goldstein remarked that though only two percent of India's population receives regular dental care, the level of care for those who do is very high.
He also commented on the surge of middle-class Indian citizens who will be seeking the finest cosmetic and restorative dentistry because of the increasing influence of television, movies and magazines.
Dr. Goldstein predicted India will need many more qualified dentists to treat the future demand for dental services. He also talked about India's increasing economic boon, rivaling China as a future worldwide leader along with the U.S.
The Atlanta practice of Goldstein, Garber & Salama, LLC, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, making it one of the largest and oldest ongoing dental practices in the country. The Team Atlanta dentists have lectured to thousands in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and North America.
While they have been invited to lecture in India many times during the past 15 years, this was a particularly timely event given President Bush's visit within the same week.
