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With dentistry across the UK facing a kaleidoscope of challenges, issues and questions, dental care professionals (DCPs) have more reasons than ever to attend the British Dental Conference and Exhibition this year. With all roads, railways and flight paths leading to ExCel in London's Docklands between 25-27 April, we look at the ten beacons lighting the way.

1 The chance to attend the whole event free of charge is a golden opportunity. Any dentist who has booked a two or three day pass is entitled to register a DCP to attend for the same days free of charge. Check with the dentists in your life if they are taking anyone.

2 As well as the British Dental Association (BDA; stand I06), a number of other associations will be exhibiting at the event including the Association of Dental Administrators and Managers (ADAM; stand BO9), the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT; stand E13), the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT; stand DO2) and the British Society of Periodontology (BSP; stand E23). Use the opportunity to meet the people who run your professional association and learn more about what they can do for you.

3 Sessions hosted by DCP representative associations are sure to be a big draw for DCPs. The ADAM-hosted Performance management and beyond – top tips for platinum success (Thursday, 3pm), the BADT-hosted Understand what dental hygienists and therapists are trained to do and how changes in their roles will impact on the new NHS environment (Friday, 2pm) and the BSDHT-hosted Preparing for change – dental hygiene and therapy in the 21st Century (Saturday, 1pm) are sure to be early entries in the conference-goer's diary.

4 The opportunity to hear first-hand from General Dental Council Chief Executive Evlynne Gilvarry about what the GDC currently does with your Annual Retention Fee (ARF), and the GDC's plans for the future (Friday, 2.15pm), is an opportunity to find out more about its activity and pose questions directly to the GDC's leader.

5 Celebrating the contribution of the whole dental team to achieving success and promoting professionalism will be the order of the day for those attending two invitation-only BDA Good Practice Scheme events being held at the event this year. New Scheme members will be celebrating on Saturday, while teams from the 200 practices who have achieved Gold membership will be marking their achievement on Friday.

6 Profound changes to the way dentistry is commissioned and delivered are likely to impact on the way that DCPs practise; early analysis of the pilots for the new contract suggest changed working practices could result from the changes. Your chance to find out the latest from, and put questions to, the Government Minister responsible for the changes, Earl Howe, is at 9.45am on Friday.

Table 1 Training essentials theatre programme
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7 Taking care of business is the priority at a number of sessions likely to appeal particularly to practice managers and administrators. Sessions on running an efficient practice that will see Michael Ball look at the top five employment law issues (Friday, 5pm) and by Len D'Cruz on whether complaints can be good for your business (Thursday, 2.45pm) are among those to target.

8 Tackling periodontal disease will be at the heart of three sessions. These hands-on workshops aimed at de-mystifying periodontal assessment and led by Leicestershire hygienist and therapist Amanda Gallie and Midlands hygienist (and Vital Reader Panel member) Shaun Howe, take place on Thursday at 4.45pm, Friday at 3pm and Saturday at 2pm. In addition, a Colgate-hosted session on improving periodontal health in practice that anticipates changes to care pathways and skill mix will take place on Thursday at 2.30pm and Professor Ian Needleman of the Eastman Dental Institute will also lead a prevention-focused session looking at long-term health (Saturday 1.15pm).

9 There is also a strong line-up of clinically-focused sessions that will appeal across the dental team. Liverpool GDP Christine Whitworth's session on healthcare-acquired infections in dentistry (Friday, 3pm), University of Manchester Professor Keith Horner's look at the latest radiology guidelines (Friday, midday); and a session led by hygienist and nutritionist Juliette Reeves focusing on the role of nutritional approaches in managing periodontal disease (Friday, 12.15pm) look like particular highlights.

10 DCPs working in special-care dentistry will want to make a beeline for the BDA Community Dental Services Group's annual Special tips for special patients session. The multi-expert-led session will this year include tips on radiology for challenging circumstances and the management of drooling (Thursday 12.30pm).

But of course the real value of attending an event such as this is often not the sessions – regardless of how good they are – but rather the peer networking, interaction and support that you simply don't get in everyday working life. It's the conversation at the Thursday evening Exhibition Hall drinks reception where you chat over new idea ways of working, or the chance encounter with someone you qualified with on the dance floor at the Friday night party. Illumination often comes when we least expect it.

For further details including the Demonstration theatre programme, and to book, visit www.bda.org/conference.