Dentistry can be a rather lonely or claustrophobic profession to work in at times, particularly if you work in a single chair practice. Even for those in a fantastic team, it's all too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day travails of practice and miss the wider developments taking place in dentistry, so it can be enormously beneficial to be exposed to new ideas and techniques and get together with other dental professionals who are in the same boat and face similar challenges.

One such opportunity to do just that is the British Dental Conference and Exhibition, where the dental world meets and comes together. Over 5,000 dental professionals gather in Manchester in May over three days to learn, be inspired by great speakers, and discover the latest innovations in dental technology.

Dentistry never stands still so it's important that you keep your knowledge and skills up to date. For those who need to, the Conference and Exhibitions offers up to 15 hours' verifiable CPD over the three days.

It's a great place to see the great and the good of the dentistry world, listen to what they have to say on the key issues facing dentistry and hear about the very latest tools and techniques in dentistry and practice management.

The Conference is being addressed by the minister responsible for dentistry, the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP, and attendees can quiz Sara Hurley, Chief Dental Officer for England, who will be taking part in a question and answer session on the BDA stand.

There are talks by Linda Greenwall and James Goolnik on tooth whitening, Gary DeWood on recognising occlusal problems, and Chris Orr exploring whether it's time to say goodbye to traditional posterior crown preparations. With over 125 other speakers, there are numerous opportunities to develop your learning further.

Alongside the Conference, there will also be opportunities to learn in the Exhibition Hall, where there will be a personal development theatre, demonstration theatre, speakers' corner, advice and workshop zones. Practice managers can benefit from free sessions on patient marketing, complaint handling, child and adult safeguarding and team management amongst others, whilst dental care professionals (DCPs) can attend free sessions on impression taking, periodontology, treatment planning, scope of practice, implants and communication in the dental team.

With exhibitors keen to show off their wares and latest inventions, the Exhibition Hall is great for keeping abreast of the latest software and kit to help your practice thrive – and picking up the odd freebie or two.

Amidst the excited hubbub of the event, you get a real sense of the enormous breadth of the dental profession with all its specialisms, various dental professionals, and all the different suppliers whose products, software and advice help the profession function. With so many dental professionals all together in one place it's a great place to network, make connections and feel a part of the wider dental world.

British Dental Conference and Exhibition 2016

Thursday 26 May – Saturday 28 May

Manchester Central Convention Complex

Entrance to the Exhibition is FREE to all.

Prices for the Conference are £95 for one day and £155 for three days for DCPs.

If your dentist is a BDA Expert member, they not only receive a FREE three-day Conference Pass themselves, but also six FREE one-day or two FREE three-day DCP Conference Passes, so it's well worth asking if they are or not. If they are, but are unable to attend themselves, their DCPs may still able to attend – full details can be found on www.bda.org/conference/FreeDCP.

To register for the British Dental Conference and Exhibition go to www.bda.org/conference or call 0844 3819 769 – lines are open 08.30-17:30, Monday to Friday.