Message from the FDI president: Dr Orlando Monteiro da Silva
Current facts and figures justify the excitement generated just over one year ago by the public announcement that FDI would hold its 2013 Annual World Dental Congress (AWDC) in Istanbul. The total of 1,500 abstracts submitted pulverizes all previous records: it is truly exceptional.
In addition, the dental industry has awarded it a huge vote of confidence by quickly snapping up the initial available exhibition space: organizers are now opening up new space to satisfy burgeoning demand.
FDI and its national partner the Turkish Dental Association (TDA) share a common perception as to what constitutes a truly international event with strong local flavour and the kind of programme to satisfy the high demands of delegates from far overseas, from neighbouring countries and from Turkey itself.
In all ways, FDI 2013 Istanbul is keeping its promise of ‘Bridging Continents for Oral Health’: 28 to 31 August is the right time and Istanbul is the right place to celebrate world dentistry! I very much look forward to seeing you there.
A ‘must attend’ scientific programme
The breadth and variety of the congress scientific programme is worthy of the high ambition of FDI 2013 Istanbul to be the ‘must-attend’ dental event of the year. It covers more than 25 key topics in Dentistry, from Endodontics, Oral Medicine and Preventive Dentistry to Practice Management and the latest innovations in Imaging and Digital Dentistry.
Altogether, the FDI 2013 Istanbul offers 70 ADA CERP accredited sessions over fours days, including a parallel one-day session specifically set up for Dental Auxiliaries.
In terms of its international focus and outreach, the 2013 Annual World Dental Congress equals and, in many cases, excels similar dental events anywhere in the world. Its prestigious panel of more than 90 speakers is drawn from 20 different countries worldwide, while the programme for the local audience offers an outstanding selection of lectures in the Turkish language by Turkish experts.
With more than 1500 abstracts submitted, FDI 2013 Istanbul also offers an international networking platform for dentists willing to share their research activities within their community and benefit from feedback from internationally-recognized experts.
Beautiful Istanbul
In the past twelve months, the city of Istanbul has been fêted in the international media for its history as the former seat of three empires, its exceptional architecture, the natural beauty of the city and its surrounding region, the diversity and hospitality of its inhabitants, its fascinating neighbourhoods and its strategic location on one of world’s busiest seaways.
Istanbul is a place to stroll through ancient quarters, re-visit the past, take tea on a terrace and watch the busy world go by; gear up for a night out in one the city’s constantly evolving restaurant and club scene; view unique treasures in one of the many and varied museums; or take in sites of outstanding beauty along the coast and the many outlying islands.
FDI 2013 Istanbul organizers have put together an exceptional programme of city tours. Visitors can marvel at the splendours of Istanbul’s Byzantine past, including Hagia Sophia Museum, one of the great architectural wonders of the ancient world.
They can also visit the world-class Archaeological Museum and the 17th century Ottoman Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and magnificent blue Iznik tiles, feast their eyes on the unique cultural treasures on display at Topkapi Palace, imagine the chariot races at the Roman Hippodrome and finish their days with a stroll through the maze of tiny shops comprising Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar.
On the water, visitors can cruise eastwards through the world-renowned Strait of Bosphorus, viewing along the way Ottoman summer palaces and a 15th century fortress pre-dating the arrival of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, or westwards to the Sea of Marmara to Princes’ Islands, once the pleasure island of Byzantine Princes, today a popular summer resort.
