Bangkok dental congress gets worldwide response

“It’s not only the first time in Thailand, but it’s the first venue bringing the western to meet eastern dentistry technologies with 180 exhibitors on more than 10,000 square metres of exhibition space,” Dr Adirek Wongsa, chairman of the organising committee, said yesterday.
The convention, which will run from September 22-25 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) in Bang Na, will welcome about 12,000 delegates, generating revenue of more than Bt700 million.
After four years of great effort to bid to host the congress, in 1999, the DAT with support from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), was selected to host it this year under the theme “Dentistry in the 21st Century”.
“This is the biggest dentistry technology show in Asia, allowing participants to experience the newest technologies and innovative dentistry science from the world’s leading companies,” Adirek said.
The four-day congress consists of three key components – the FDI General Assembly, world oral forum and an exhibition.
Besides a rich scientific programme including panels, conferences and forums, special sessions will be available such as early-morning breakfast meetings, meet-the-expert sessions and a review-of-the-year session.
It provides a great opportunity to share academic knowledge and experience with dental colleagues from every continent.
More than 100 reputed speakers from all around the world will be invited to speak at the congress, which will feature a keynote lecture, discussions, practice on simulators and the presentation of more than 400 research papers.
Among the key issues for debate are oral health and population ageing, caries (tooth decay) control and prevention, and innovative practices such as minimal intervention dentistry.
Thai dental specialists will join the forums to present the development of techniques and equipment including “Dental Implants for the 21st Century” by Chatchai Kunavisarut and “Cad-Cam in Dentistry – Future Perspective” by Niwut Juntavee.
This year, digital dentistry is among the hot topics for discussion, such as innovative three-dimensional imaging technology in orthodontics and digital workflow in dental practices, Adirek said.
Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of the TCEB, said the bureau had provided both financial and non-financial support for organising the event including the budget, domestic and international public relations and marketing, and collaboration with various government agencies. The strong confirmation of the FDI World Dental Federation reaffirmed international confidence in organising events in Thailand, he said.
This congress is a driver for growth of Thailand’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) industry to meet the target this year of more than a million international MICE travellers and more than Bt106 billion in revenue, he said.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the FDI’s membership comprises some 200 national dental associations in more than 130 countries.