Yes I definitely do check if my dentist go to conferences, presents or teaches.

Ever since a dentist fucked up and caused me a lot of pain and to spend a lot of money to fix the damage, I've become very careful about how I chose health care professionals. And while I don't know enough about dentistry to judge seeing a dentist go to conference documents himself on the newest techniques and teach or present at conferences is a good signal to find out if he is good.

There are people who are passionate about what they do and they are people who don't care all that much in almost every case the passionate ones will be better.