FDI 2013 Istanbul has pulverized all records for abstract submission in more than 100 years of Annual World Dental Congresses: this year’s total of 1,586 abstracts is three times higher than the previous record (511), established in 2012 in Hong Kong. Of the total, 1,087 are posters, 472 oral and 30 poster discussion abstracts.
Just under half (743) come from the congress host country, Turkey, with countries in the region such as Iran (87), Egypt (57) and FYR Macedonia (49) respectively in 2nd, 4th and 5th places. Furthermore, this years’ congress has proved to have exceptional outreach, with a high number of abstracts from countries as far afield as India (62 abstracts), Malaysia (34), Japan (32) and Brazil (31).
“These are truly exceptional results,” said FDI President Dr Orlando Monteiro da Silva. “Congratulations are in order for everyone involved: I think we can look forward to a best-ever FDI congress in 2013!”
Hands-on sessions
For 2013, FDI has extended its list of innovations to include hands-on sessions demonstrating specific dental techniques. In all, 29 hands-on-courses from a number of dental disciplines have been programmed, among them aesthetics, implantology and restorative dentistry.
The aim is to provide hands-on-training in fields covered in specific theoretical courses within the scientific programme. The hands-on courses add to the ‘Early Morning’ and ‘Meet the Expert’ sessions first introduced for the 2012 Annual Dental Congress in Hong Kong.
Says congress scientific committee Chair and FDI counsellor Prof Nermin Yamalik: “‘Early Morning’ session focus on a specific aspect of dental practice: they remind us that dentistry is both a medical and business sector and practitioners require both areas of expertise. ‘Meet the Expert’ sessions provide a unique opportunity for congress-goers to question and interact with international experts.”
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Christopher M. Simpson / FDI Communications Manager / csimpson@fdiworldental.org / Call +41 22 560 8134 / Fax +41 22 560 8140
Op-ed: An interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach
Prof Dr Taner Yücel, President, Turkish Dental Association
The scientific programme of the 2013 Annual World Dental Congress in Istanbul (28 to 31 August 2013) aims essentially at updating all dental professionals throughout the world on the scientific, professional and technological developments/improvements in all fields of dentistry. It is clear that interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches in the diagnosis and treatment planning of most oral diseases/disorders are essential elements of success in oral health care.
Thus, the participants will notice that many of the topics are dealt with in a multidisciplinary manner by experts from various dental disciplines. This certainly will provide the participants with a broader perspective and a thorough analysis/evaluation of these particular topics.
Hands-on-courses are designed in a way to support the scientific programme and the lectures. We have 29 hands-on-courses from many dental disciplines (aesthetics, implantology, restorative dentistry, others). Most hands-on-courses are in line with the topics included in the scientific programme. The essence of this approach is to provide the participants with the chance of hands-on-training for a specific theoretical course that exists within the scientific programme.
Practice management is another important part of the congress and the programme. Communication strategies, financial management tools and staff management are some of the practice-related topics that the participants will find interesting and beneficial.
We clearly acknowledge dentistry as a medically-oriented health profession and see oral health as integral to general health. The sessions on medically-complex patients, oral cancers, prevention, the bilateral relationship between oral and general health as well as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are sessions that we will place a particular emphasis on.
Particular sessions will be available for dental auxiliaries, with a whole day programmed for them. Hands-on-courses for dental technicians will also be available.
There are many well-known scientists and lecturers in the programme. Participants will have the chance to listen to their lectures during the regular scientific programme, but also they will have the chance to discuss with them practical aspects and their recommendations in small-group discussions during breakfast and lunch-times.
FDI’s partners will also take part in the scientific programme. IADR will have a particular session on ‘Materials’. This will be a session where the participants will be scientifically updated on this issue.
When we take a close look at the programme, we see that the interdisciplinary approach is achieved through different models of presentations. Since most dental care needs interdisciplinary approaches, there are, besides the classical lectures, interdisciplinary lectures where the session and the topic is shared by two speakers from two different disciplines,
This enables dental professionals to evaluate the topic from the eyes of two experts. Interactive case discussions are sessions dealing with cases that we face each day during practice. These sessions give participants the opportunity to actively participate to the diagnosis and treatment planning of the presented cases from various dental disciplines, such as prosthodontics, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, and others.
Panel discussions on endodontics, prosthodontics, implantology, evidence-based dentistry and advanced imaging will clearly widen our scope regarding the scientific/technological developments.
Through all these sessions, many important and current topics/discussions/debates will be available for participants, from trauma, anterior aesthetic zone, metal-free restorations, endodontic complications, remineralization, implant complications/failures, to successful preventive approaches, importance of evidence, dentin hypersensitivity, aesthetic success parameters, dental erosion, diagnosis/treatment planning/decision making, tissue augmentation and regeneration, orthognathic surgery and many others.
We have no doubt that there is great deal available at this global congress for colleagues from around the world.
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