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EAO ANNUAL Congress |
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Dentists from around the world meet to discuss implant technology
More than 3,000 dentists from around the world are meeting in Glasgow this month (October) to hear about some of the very latest techniques in implant technology.
They will be meeting at the 19th annual scientific congress of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) which takes place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre from 6-9 October 2010.
The four day congress focuses on science related to dental implants but it promises something for dental practitioners everywhere. Leading experts will make presentations on topics ranging from aesthetics and the use of new materials, to options for implant restorations and the growing use of digital equipment.
“The conference aims to bridge the gap between science and clinical practice,” says EAO Scientific Chairman and EAO President elect, Paul Stone.
There will also be a wide range of other attractions including multiple parallel sessions, master classes, short oral communications, a poster presentation, EAO Research Prize Competitions in Clinical and Basic Research, and a series of pre-congress 'step-by-step' courses.
There will be simultaneous translation of the presentations in French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Further details of the Glasgow 2010 Congress can be found on the EAO website: www.eao.org
Moving into the digital era
Fast disappearing are the days when dentists used to take impressions of teeth, implants and jaws in order to be able to treat their patients. Dentistry has moved progressively into the digital era.
Indeed, CAT scanning is no longer the sole remit of hospitals as cone beam CT (CBCT) scanning becomes increasingly commonplace in dental surgeries.
But is all this technology really up to the job? What are the inaccuracies and the problems dentists have to look for?
These and other questions will be among those answered during two conference sessions being held on Friday October 8. The first looks at the current and future applications of Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in implant dentistry, whilst the second looks at CBCT imaging in implant dentistry.
The CAD/CAM session will look at techniques for both surgical aids and restoration but will also involve an insight into the future from a non-clinician CAD/CAM scientist.
Boys and their toys
Dentists who love their gadgets will find plenty to see and play with at the EAO Congress in Glasgow this year. One of Europe’s biggest implant dentistry trade exhibitions is being held alongside the main conference and all major trade suppliers will be represented.
The Congress has become a showcase for the latest in dental implant hardware and it is now recognised as one of the premier events at which to launch new products.
With nearly 500 stands and hospitality centres, the show will give dentists ample opportunity to meet their colleagues and suppliers.
The trade exhibition runs throughout the conference and there will be further industry satellite symposia presented by the main sponsors.
Research Prizes
The two coveted annual EAO prizes for Clinical and Basic Research will be chosen during the Congress from nearly 500 abstracts which have been submitted. Other abstracts will be presented as Posters or by oral communication.
Controversies
Top of the agenda for the EAO Congress this year will be some of the more controversial aspects of implant dentistry that continue to be discussed among dentists.
“There are still many different views on the various techniques and materials that can and are being used on a day-to-day basis,” says EAO Scientific Chairman, Paul Stone.
“There are different views on almost everything, from the timing of the implant surgery, through to how different tissues react to the various materials available; which is the most suitable bone, the best soft tissue, and what sort restoration is better for which situation.
“There are also a lot of questions about putting implants into sites that have been infected, and how to manage and avoid situations where nerves might get damaged during implant surgery.”
To help provide some answers, the EAO is bringing together some of the world’s leading scientific experts to provide guidelines and give advice based on evidence from scientific research.
“In the past it used to be relatively uncomplicated but we have got all sorts of things happening with different materials now,” he says. “The titanium we use is changing; the crowns are changing; and the dentist is faced with all sorts of choices which he didn’t have before. As a result, there are a lot of dentists who don’t necessarily have sufficient information to be able to make that choice wisely.”
Dr Stone says it is very important that such choices are made based on proper scientific evidence rather than on marketing pressure.
“Choice is essential and options are important. But it is very important that the dentist who is offering those choices is able to offer guidance on which of these options is better, based on scientific evidence.
“We owe it to our patients to offer options but the more options we offer them, the more we have to support the options as being viable alternatives,” he said.
“The EAO Congress offers a wonderful opportunity for dentists to short-circuit obtaining the information needs. The delegate can listen to experts who have already gone through all the relevant literature for them and who are in the best position to offer guidance, suggestions or techniques without any commercial bias.”
Managing expectations
One of the more unusual subjects for an implant conference will be the session on Friday October 8th that looks at “quality of life factors”.
With so much emphasis on the ‘hardware’, it is sometimes easy to forget what could be referred to as the ‘software’ – the patient. Four speakers will be looking at how to manage the expectations and anxieties of patients, whether it is the one who has seen too many American television and extreme makeover shows, or those who are struggling with the psychology of pain. The speakers will also look at how implant treatment affects speech and masticatory efficiency.
A professional psychologist will be among the panel members.
Aesthetics of new materials
The aesthetics of new materials is a subject that appears on the agenda of most dental conferences. The EAO Congress in Glasgow is no exception because nearly every year the profession increases its understanding of the subject.
“Aesthetics: clinical guidelines” will be the first plenary session on Thursday October 7 with a panel of four eminent speakers talking on different aspects.
As one of the organising committee put it: “This is a session that every dentist should attend. To the patient, looks are everything. We tend to get very hung up about all the implant materials and techniques we use but we have to remember that our patients come wanting teeth, not implants.”
First EAO Certificates
The European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) will award its first Certificates in Implant-based Therapy at the Glasgow 2010 Congress.
As the only Europe-wide standardised assessment of implant-based therapy, the certificate will provide a benchmark for assessing knowledge and skills.
The first candidates to participate in the new certification scheme will undergo their final examinations in Glasgow just prior to the awards ceremony.
They will be asked about six case studies they have had to submit and will be required to demonstrate knowledge of theoretical and clinical implant based therapy. This includes basic knowledge of anatomy, pathology, biomechanics, physiology, histology, applied dental materials, applied pharmacology, radiology and biostatistics.
Candidates who successfully complete the certification programme will be able to demonstrate to both patients and regulatory authorities that they are competent to perform straightforward implant treatments.
Details about the 2011 certification programme will appear shortly on the EAO website: www.eao.org
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