By: Mrs. Shelly Fava, MA, CMP, CAE
MDDS Executive Director

As adults, we’re rarely surprised by the gifts we receive. We open our packages knowing we’ll see a tie or some perfume. But remember when we were children and each gift brought a sense of wonder, that little jolt of excitement at not knowing exactly what was under the paper? There was that moment of delight when you peeled back the paper and saw a Lego you didn’t know you wanted.

MDDS volunteer dentists and the professional team have been working hard to ensure you get that same childlike thrill when you and your team open your biggest member benefit, the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention (RMDC), this year.

One statement you may have started to hear more is ‘oral health is health’. For anyone in dentistry, this concept isn’t new. We’ve known the truth of this phrase for a long time. However, world leadership, the medical community and the public are starting to understand the mouth-body connection. The RMDC Programming Committee has spent a great deal of time curating a full slate of educational courses exploring both the mouth-body connection and the role dentistry can play in bettering patient overall health. The NEW Integrated Healthcare Summit has content for you, whether you’re just getting started in this arena or are an old hand at it. Engage in over 48 hours of cutting-edge education, participate in health screenings and diagnostic testing, and discover innovative approaches that connect dentistry to total health.

If dental research is of interest to you, RMDC 2026 welcomes world-renowned researchers from the ADA Forsyth Institute to showcase their latest breakthroughs. See how cutting-edge studies could impact your clinical practice and stay ahead with the most important research shaping dentistry today.

Hundreds of vendors will be bringing their products, services and energy to the RMDC Expo Hall. You and your team can find everything you need to upgrade your equipment, provide better service to your patients and work more efficiently in your office. There will also be health screenings available in the Expo Hall so you can better understand the diagnostic testing you learned about during the Integrated Healthcare Summit and how to make it available to your patients. If you want to give back to those in need, you can participate in the Vitalant Blood Drive.

At MDDS, we care deeply about the wellness of members, so RMDC gives you lots of ways to relax, enjoy and plug in to your dental community. You can make your wellness a priority with no-cost ergonomic checks, vaccinations from Walgreens Pharmacy and a chair massage in the Wellness Oasis. Savor refreshments during the Mile High Happy Hour; Sips & Shopping Happy Hour; or Saturday’s Snacks & Shopping Break. Have a cuddle with a furry friend during Puppy Playtime. Enjoy live entertainment. Grab a beer and pull up an Adirondack chair in the Après Ski Lounge. If you haven’t had enough fun at that point, you can join in the Friday Night Silent Disco Party. Throw on a pair of headphones, pick your favorite mix and dance like nobody’s watching.

So, open the gift of RMDC and discover all the delights MDDS has designed for the entire dental community. Be surprised and delighted by what you find under the wrapper. We promise it’ll be better than a Lego.