International Dental Conference on "Global Perspectives in Dentistry" opens in Ajman University

Monday, Dec 20, 2010
International Dental Conference on

As part of its plan to promote the innovative medical environment at Ajman University of Science & Technology (AUST), the AUST Innovative Medical Environment in cooperation with the Emirates Medical Association (EMA) Dental Society has organized the 2nd College of Dentistry – AUST and the 15th EMA International Dental Conference themed “Global Perspectives in Dentistry”, on December 15-16, 2010. 

The two-day joint conference has opened Wednesday morning at the AUST Sheikh Zayed Centre for Conferences and Exhibitions, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Saeed Abdulla Salman, AUST President, in the presence of Dr. Ibraheem Arab, Director of Dental Department of the UAE Ministry of Health, Dr. Aisha Sultan Al Suaidi, Head of the Dental Society of the Emirates Medical Association, delegates of Arab Dental Societies and Dentists Unions, Deans of Dentistry Colleges in the Arab World, AUST Vice-Presidents and College Deans, alongside AUST College of Dentistry faculty members and students as well as the conference guests and participants.

In his address to the conference, read on his behalf by Mr. Thamer Saeed Salman, AUST Vice- President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Saeed Salman praised the achievements in higher education and scientific research attained by the United Arab Emirates under the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayn, President of the UAE, his brother H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and their brethren Members of the UAE Supreme Council, Rulers of the Emirates.

He also commended the constructive partnership between Ajman University of Science and Technology and the Emirates Medical Association, stating that AUST believes in the effectiveness of such events, as they promote scientific research by presenting cutting edge practices and techniques in oral healthcare, which will contribute to providing better dental treatment services for the UAE community.

On her part, Dr. Aisha Sultan Al Suaidi, Head of the Dental Society of the Emirates Medical Association, praised the conference saying that “such scientific gatherings are an indicator of the implementation of the continuing medical education policy in the UAE to keep dentists abreast of the latest developments in all areas of dentistry.” She added that “these conferences and workshops open new horizons for UAE dentists to learn about the expertise of their counterparts from other countries and get the maximum benefit in various dental specialties.”

Prof.  Abdul Azim Ahmed, Director General of AUST Innovative Medical Environment Commission (IMEC) said that “the IMEC is an offshoot of the overall innovative environment that AUST attempts to achieve based on its comprehensive vision.” It is a framework encompassing all the health and medical entities including the College of Dentistry. “The  IMEC, he added, acts as a consultative body with the aim to establish an environment capable of offering integrated healthcare services that cover awareness, prevention and treatment.”

Dr. Salem Abu Fanas, Dean of AUST College of Dentistry, stated that this cooperation between the College of Dentistry at AUST and the Dental Society of the Emirates Medical Association will present a model for integrating medical education with practice and breaking the barrier between academia and business community.

The event has brought together world-renown academics and clinicians engaged in all areas of dentistry. It provided a review of the current evidence-based status of various areas relevant to dentistry, as well as current trends, clinical developments and techniques. The conference program consisted of four sessions and one pre-conference workshop, with a total number of thirteen papers presented.

The pre-conference workshop, held on the eve of the conference on the topic “Preprosthetic Periodontal Surgery”, was conducted by Prof. Fatin Awartani, Professor of Periodontics and Community Dentistry in the College of Dentistry at King Saud University. Prof. Awartani presented the attendees with the latest procedures and techniques followed in performing different types of surgical crown lengthening.

The first day of the conference was divided into morning and afternoon sessions with five lectures. The first lecture was presented by Prof. Malcolm Harris, Honorary Professor at University of Central Lancaster and entitled "Medical Problems and Implant Failures”. Prof. Fatin Awartani delivered the second lecture on the topic “Evaluation of Periodontal Status in Subjects with Hyperlipidemia”. From his part, Prof. Stephen Flint, Professor and Consultant in Oral Medicine at the Dental School and Hospital of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, presented the third lecture with the theme “Oral Ulceration”. Afterwards, Dr. Sajith Bhaskar, Professor at the College of Dentistry of Ajman University of Science and Technology – Fujairah Campus, started the evening session with a lecture on “the Role of Calcium Hydroxide in Endodontic Management of Deciduous and Permanent Dentition.” This was followed by a presentation entitled “Perio-Prosthetic Integration” by Dr. Philippe Tardieu, Periodontal Specialist in Dubai.

In the second day, eight lectures were presented in tow sessions. The morning session started off with a lecture on “Xerostomia” by Prof. Stephen Flint. Following his lecture, Prof. Malcolm Harris gave his second presentation in the conference on the theme “the Cause and Cure of Temporomandibular Disorders TMD.” The third lecture was presented by Dr. Khalid Balouchi, Assistant Clinical Professor at Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education in Dubai, under the title “Oral-Systemic Health Link”. Dr. V.K. Gopinath, Assistant Professor of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at the Dentistry College of Sharjah University, delivered a lecture on “Guiding Developing Occlusion in Deciduous Dentition.” Then, Dr. Mohamed Sulaiman, Dental Specialist at Rashid Hospital, closed the morning session with a presentation on the topic “Single Implants in Esthetic Zone.”

After lunch break, the evening session of the second day resumed with a lecture by Prof. Malcolm Harris entitled “the Bisphosphonate Risk in General Dental Practice.”  Next, “Treatment of Gingival Recessions” was the topic of a lecture presented by Dr. Alain Romanos, Visiting Assistant Professor at the Periodontology Department of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, USA. Finally, Dr. Subodh Nanavati, CBAHI Co-Chairman, KSA, delivered the last lecture on “Dento Alveolar Trauma”.

It is worth noting here that the "Global Perspectives in Dentistry" conference was accredited 11 CDE by the UAE Ministry of Health, in addition to 6 CDE accredited for the preconference workshop.