07 July 2023

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Oral Reconstruction Global Symposium welcomes 1,000 from 42 countries to Rome

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The Oral Reconstruction Global Symposium themed, "Where Is it Going, Implant Dentistry?" held in mid-May 2023 in Rome hosted 1,000 participants from 42 countries. The symposium featured more than 55 top international speakers under the auspices of the Oral Reconstruction Foundation, headed by the Foundation President and Congress Chair, Dr. Luca Cordaro, MD, DDS, PhD, head of the Department of Periodontics and Prosthodontics, Policlinico Umberto I, Eastman Dental Hospital, Rome. 

High-tech meets history

The Auditorium Parco della Musica, where the congress was held, enchanted its participants and stood in contrast to the high-tech treatment methods and cutting-edge research topics presented by some of the world's leading experts. Not surprisingly, attendees rewarded the organizers with full ranks during all three days of the event. Even the pre-symposium entitled "Technology helps the clinic" with eight scientific lectures and five workshops attracted more than 500 participants. 

Technology driven by the human touch

In a world increasingly driven by technology, what links great dental practitioners and will continue to be a defining quality of great dentists in the future is the ability to establish caring human connections. The congress was rounded off by a lively networking opportunity, attended by more than 700 participants, at Villa Miani high above the roofs of Rome with wonderful views.

The Oral Reconstruction Foundation is a great example of an organization where specialists come together to exchange best practices and form connections that last a lifetime. Just to name one anecdote: when all flights to Rome were cancelled on Friday due to a strike at the airport, one speaker drove all the way from Germany by car – 15 hours in total – to make it in time to give his lecture. 

The main program on Friday and Saturday was divided into eight sessions. Topics discussed included different options for hard and soft tissue augmentation, including Guided Bone Regeneration with blocks, shells, or computer-assisted bone augmentation.

The speakers examined questions related to bone and soft tissue healing around implants and reviewed options in the treatment of gingival recession. Another focus was on the use of autologous bone or allogeneic, xenogeneic, or synthetic bone graft substitutes, membranes, and soft tissue matrices. There were heated discussions of the question of when the right time for implant placement is and what the advantages of digitization are. 

The Future of implant dentistry in the hands of promising youngsters

Two program items were dedicated to young and upcoming specialists. 

At the Science Slam on Friday, six young researchers presented their posters during a two-minute oral pitch. The three top presentations were selected by the audience, and the overall winner was Dr. Rodolfo Reda, Università Sapienza, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Rome. 

The Oral Reconstruction Foundation Research Award on Saturday was won by Dr. Florian Kernen, junior professor for virtual implantology, Medical Faculty, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany. The Award Committee with Prof. Fernando Guerra, Dr. Ana Torres and João Pitta chose Florian Kernen for his outstanding research on “In vivo precision of intraoral scanners.”

Florian Kernen is a member of the team of Prof. Katja Nelson, moderator of the opening session and speaker at the pre-symposium. 

The symposium was supported by BioHorizons Camlog, founding sponsor of the OR Foundation.

About the Oral Reconstruction Foundation

Since its establishment in 2006, the OR Foundation has been supporting fundamental and applied research projects, granting research funds to young scientists, and promoting education and training. It has created a networking platform through which international experts from a wide range of disciplines can maintain a permanent exchange of knowledge and ideas.

The Foundation firmly believes that fostering close international collaboration between universities, practitioners, technicians, and industry is the best way to solidify the scientific basis of oral reconstruction and meet the needs of patients. Activities organized or planned under the auspices of the OR Foundation respect these principles as much as they support the OR’s goal: the collaboration of science and education in the service of patients.