Dental Education Summit 2024 explored the future of dental education

From 2 to 3 July 2024, representatives from over 60 dental schools gathered in Helsinki, Finland, for the Dental Education Summit 2024 to explore the future landscape of dental education. Organised by Planmeca Group companies (including Planmeca, KaVo Dental, HeySmile and LM-Instruments) in partnership with BWT, GC and Melag Medizintechnik, the event featured insightful keynote speeches, inspiring discussions and hands-on workshops, all designed to foster knowledge exchange and enhance the quality of dental education worldwide.

Esteemed speakers delivered thought-provoking presentations, emphasising the integration of advanced technology and innovative teaching methods into dental education. Dr Antti Kämppi, PhD, DDS, MSc, Associate Professor at University of Helsinki, discussed utilising digital tools for enhanced clinical teaching in dentistry, while Prof Dr János Vág, PhD, DMD, Head of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics at Semmelweis University, shared experiences in implementing CAD/CAM for undergraduates and beyond.

The keynote speeches also addressed topical trends in dentistry to stimulate dialogue and inspire innovative approaches to teaching and learning within dental institutions. Prof Dr Ivo Krejci, Prof med dent, Professor Emeritus at the University of Geneva, gave a lecture on modern ways of digital caries diagnostics in subclinical treatments, while Dr Bo Danielsen, DDS, MBA, MIL, Head of the School of Oral Health Care, University of Copenhagen, discussed the future demands on patient safety, and Dr Athina Tsiorva, DDS, addressed the importance of quality treatment planning in aligner treatments.

The attendees also participated in practical sessions, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge dental technologies and teaching tools, including solutions utilising virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning. The hands-on workshops showcased how the latest advancements in dentistry can enhance teaching and learning experiences within academic settings.

Furthermore, the summit facilitated numerous networking sessions, fostering collaboration and partnerships among attendees. The summit concluded with a commitment to continue advancing dental education through ongoing collaboration and innovation.

“The Dental Education Summit 2024 was organised for the first time in this format – and already exceeded our expectations. The summit created a unique platform for sharing knowledge and exchanging best practices in dental education, which we believe is vital for driving positive change within the dental education landscape. As industry representatives, it is crucial for us to stay in close contact with dental schools, and this event successfully facilitated those connections. Plans are already underway for the next summit, which will build on the achievements of this year's event and further explore emerging trends and technologies in dental education,” stated Jussi Ylisaari, Vice President for Institutional Accounts at Planmeca, reflecting on the success of the event.