It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Academy for Sports Dentistry. My name is Jeffrey Hoy and I am the president of the ASD. I have been a member of this organization for over 10 years and have seen the website grow. Our website contains an impressive variety of information pertaining to the many facets of the Academy. 

The Academy for Sports Dentistry was formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1983 and has undergone remarkable growth to become the world’s leading organization for sports-related dental issues including treatment and prevention guidelines for dental-facial injuries, the use of spit tobacco, oral and facial piercings, performance enhancing substances and doping regulations. This authoritative position has been achieved and maintained through the excellent contribution of our members, like-minded individuals and organizations throughout the world. 

The ASD is a unique organization whose membership is not limited to dentists, but a broad membership of health care professionals, including athletic trainers, who join together with other professional organizations worldwide in support of treatment, prevention, research and education for the benefit of those we treat as well as those we train. Additionally, we have a growing student organization with dental students from dental schools across the country. 

The Academy for Sports Dentistry maintains an active, working relationship with the American Dental Association (ADA), the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Society for Dentistry, Sport and Trauma (ISDST). The ASD also has a relationship with Oral Health America, the National Spit Tobacco Program (NSTEP) as well as our “sister organization”, the International Association for Dental Traumatology (IADT), with whom we share our excellent Journal of Dental Traumatology. Recently, the ASD has formed a reciprocal, working relationship with the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain which we anticipate to be a mutually beneficial collaboration. 

The Academy for Sports Dentistry provides resources and contacts for its members whether it pertains to team dentist duties and protocol for professional as well as amateur sports, initiating a team-dentist program or to better treat the active patients in your practice. Additionally, if you have interests in research, the ASD provides opportunities to pursue these interests with like-minded colleagues. 

The Annual Symposium of the ASD is the best opportunity to experience our organization. The upcoming annual symposium is scheduled for May 7-9, 2009 and will be held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. As a result of the web-survey received from the members, the 2009 Annual Symposium has been tailored to the preferences demonstrated by the members. Some of these preferences include moving the dates of the symposium to the month of May and to a downtown location. 

Some of the highlights of this fantastic symposium program are as follows: The latest guidelines for treatment and follow-up of traumatic dental-facial injuries will be given by world renowned Dr. Anthony DiAngelis of the International Association of Dental Traumatology. Our recognition luncheon will be on Thursday followed by an afternoon of presentations from leading sports-medicine speakers form the Chicago area, among them, Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph of the Chicago Bulls & White Sox, Dr’s George Chiampas and Cherise Russo, of the Chicago Marathon, all presenting treatment protocols. Dr. Terry Bennett, from the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain will present the latest guidelines of treating traumatic injuries of the TMJ. An entire morning will be devoted to a panel lecture and discussion of the most up to date materials, designs and guidelines pertaining to sports mouthguards. World renown researchers and clinicians will come together to present and discuss the most recent and controversial information on sports mouthguards in the Academy for Sports Dentistry’s first mouthguard forum that will encourage audiences participation, and attempt to define “What is the Most Effective Mouthguard?” Dr. Ruben Echemendia, President of the American Academy of Neuro-psychology and Director of Neuropsychological Testing for the National Hockey League will bring us up to date with his very informative presentation on concussions, which will include findings of the recent NHL Concussion Study. By popular request, an advanced hands-on suture workshop will be offered by plastic surgeon, Dr. Chester Griffiths, from the medical staff of the Los Angeles Kings Hockey Team. 

Please make plans to attend this very informative and important landmark event. You may refer to the symposium page of the ASD’s website to obtain more details and registration information. A discounted symposium registration fee is available to all members who bring a non-member guest. The discounted rate is extended to the non-member guest as well. The discount for members accumulates so the more guests you bring, the more discounts you receive on registration. 

As you can see, the upcoming ASD Symposium is shaping up to be an exciting and very informative program, presenting the most pertinent topics in the field of treatment and prevention of traumatic dental-facial injuries and the relationship of sports. Additionally, the annual symposium is a special meeting where friendships are made and renewed each year during this outstanding educational and entertaining experience. It is an event not to be missed. I look forward to seeing you in Chicago, May 7-9, 2009. 

Wishing you all the best, 

 
Jeffrey Hoy, D.D.S. 

President, Academy for Sports Dentistry