Ever wondered what it’s really like to set sail on a dental CE cruise? Well, thanks to Dana Myers, you don’t have to! Dana walks us through a day in the life on her favorite CE cruise, a Smiles at Sea Caribbean cruise. Read on to see what you should expect!
A Day Aboard a Smiles at Sea Cruise
by Dana Myers, RDH
Friday, March 16, 2018
I woke up this morning in the middle of the ocean! Yesterday I boarded Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and we departed for beautiful Cozumel, Mexico. I’ve never been before and I’m super excited. Sounds like a great vacation, right? Well, the best part is that during this 5-day trip through paradise I’ll be earning a total of 12 dental CEs, because this is no ordinary cruise; it’s a Smiles at Sea cruise. Here’s how today went:
6:45am
I got up, dressed in casual clothes, and headed up to Windjammer Café for a huge buffet breakfast. I piled my plate high, grabbed some coffee and juice, and sat down at a table in with friends to fuel up for the day. No bill for this giant meal, because it’s included in the price of my cabin. After breakfast I headed to the Alhambra Theatre for the morning classes. The theatre is super swanky – it’s where all the major performances aboard the ship are put on.
8:00am
1 Dental CE Credit: Gums of Steel – The Oral Systemic Transformation of the Hygiene Department to the Medical Standard, presented by Dr. Chris Kammer (a founder and advisory board member of AAOSH, the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health). Dr. Kammer has a unique ability to pump you up and remind you that you have the power to change the world and save lives. He gives actionable advice for implementing oral-systemic protocols into dental hygiene practice to enhance our ability to literally save lives.
9:00am
2 Dental CE Credits: The Future of Dentistry [with Vendor Questions], hosted by the founder and CEO of Smiles at Sea, Elijah Desmond. This was like an interview session, where Elijah (our Captain and Master of Ceremonies) asked some of the expert vendors probing questions about advancing technologies and changes in the dental profession. This was a fun and interactive way to get to know not only the products and services, but the impact they’re having on our industry and everyday practice. It was also perfectly time, because immediately afterward the exhibit hall opened in the conference room.
11:00am
Exhibit Hall time – much smaller than what you’d find at the major national conferences, which made it feel so intimate and comfortable. It gave me the chance to actually get around to every table and talk directly to every vendor! The atmosphere was quite relaxed and I appreciated the personal attention.
12:00
Lunch! The exhibit hall was still open, but I ran back up to the huge buffet at Windjammer and grabbed a plate of snacks to take back to the classroom. For the afternoon classes, we split into two different course tracks, so we moved from the large theatre to conference rooms neighboring the exhibit hall room.
1:00
1 Dental CE Credit: Conscious Sedation and Other 4-Letter Words, presented by Dr. Kevin Croft. Dr. Croft led a frank discussion about treatment planning and executing safe and effective sedation in the dental offices. He provided a solid foundation of knowledge on the spectrum of sedation, the applicable ADA guidelines and code of ethics, as well as handy tips and tricks for predictable sedation.
2:00pm
1 Dental CE Credit: Does Your Implant Pass the Ultratooth Apple Bite Challenge?, presented by Dr. Sargon Lazarof. Dr. Lazarof discussed the exciting new technology for immediate single tooth replacement in full function. It’s called a Molly toggle bolt and it allows us to reduce the typical 8-12 month process from extraction to loading to a single appointment!
3:00pm
1 Dental CE Credit: 2 Million in 2 Years, presented by Dr. Gregg May. In this course, Dr. May introduced us to a new way of thinking about the practice of dentistry. He shifted the focus from clinical education to behavior and relationships, specifically outlining in depth the concept of charisma and how we can harness our own to inspire our patients and teammates.
4:00pm
Break time! I fought the urge to go back to my cabin for a nap, and instead went to the pool on the top deck and soaked up some rays. I sipped my beautifully garnished cocktail and dangled my feet in the water while friends and I chatted about everything we’d learned so far. We excitedly began planning an excursion for the full day in port at Cozumel tomorrow. Snorkeling seemed to be the frontrunner. I went back to my cabin to shower and get gussied up for the night ahead, and found a little towel animal waiting for me on my bed.
6:00pm
It was finally time for the Weave Whitening Ball in the Pyramid Lounge. The whole lounge was a sea of folks dressed sharply in all white, accented by glow-stick jewelry and rainbow-colored, light-up rings. Dr. Kammer kicked it off as only he could, in his shiny silver suit and musical playlist designed to get everybody up and moving. We all enjoyed complimentary cocktails and danced our hearts out!
8:00pm
As a massive group we made our way over to the Macbeth Dining Room for dinner, and split up into small groups at neighboring tables. I ate so much delicious food I thought I might explode, but I successfully made my way to Studio B for the comedy show and last CE course of the day.
9:30pm
2 Dental CE Credits: Dentistry’s King of Comedy – Exceptional Patient Care is No Joke! Carlos Rodriguez, RDH, a “guygienist” and stand-up comedian, presented communication strategies to improve interpersonal relationships with patients and team members. This CE course was unlike any other I’ve ever attended; it was like being at a regular comedy show! A lot of attendees who’d brought their significant others on the cruise brought them to the show, and even they got a huge kick out of it. This is the first time in my life I’ve gone to class with a cocktail! Before the presentation we all got to enjoy a Twice As Nice Uniforms fashion show, hosted by Debora McKenzie Carrier.
11:45pm
After the comedy show, we kept the party going by heading to the ship’s 2-level dance club, The Raven. I danced alongside vendors and speakers and crew until my Fitbit alerted me that I’d reached my 10,000 steps for Saturday already. Now that’s a party!
1:30am
I finally went back to my room to go to sleep, exhausted, but stoked to have a full day tomorrow in Cozumel, Mexico. No classes, just snorkeling, shopping, and the beach!
As a self-identified CE and conference junkie, I’ve attended A LOT of CE events, and Smiles at Sea is hands down my favorite. The networking and venue are second to none. I hope to CE you on the ship!
