Ajman University Holds the 2nd Advancing Excellence in Dental Care Conference
The College of Dentistry at Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST) and the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have organized their 2nd joint dental conference themed “Advancing Excellence in Dental Care,” from April 23rd to April 24th, 2011, at the Sheikh Zayed Centre for Conferences and Exhibitions on AUST's Ajman campus, under the auspices of His Excellency Dr. Saeed Abdullah Salman, AUST Supreme President.
The conference, supported by the Emirates Medical Association's Dental Society, have brought together world-renowned researchers, academics and clinicians engaged in all fields of dentistry to provide a review of the current evidence-based status of various areas relevant to dentistry, as well as current trends, clinical developments and techniques with a view to advancing excellence in dental practice.
The two-day event was inaugurated by Mr. Thamer Saeed Salman, AUST Vice-President, who delivered the conference’s opening address on behalf of H.E AUST Supreme President. In his address, Dr. Saeed Salman welcomed the conference guests and participants, whishing them utmost benefits from this event’s sessions and workshops. Dr. Salman praised the so many feats attained by the United Arab Emirates in such a short period of time thanks to the wise leadership and directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. He also commended the generous patronage and unceasing support Ajman University of Science and Technology has been honored with since its inception in 1988 – as a non-conventional private institution of higher education - by His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.
Dr. Salman said that this conference “provides a vibrant platform for dental professionals throughout the region to share ideas, explore the potential of new advances in technology, and foster closer ties.” In addition to AUST College of Dentistry, he stated, this event is of great benefit to AUST Information, Training and Research Council as well as AUST Innovative Medical Environment Commission. “The research papers to be presented and discussed during the conference sessions will certainly impact positively all our health-related units and staff,” said Dr. Salman.
He went on to say that: “AUST College of Dentistry was the first dental college in the UAE to offer an accredited Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1997. This year the College obtained accreditation for its very promising Master of Restorative Dentistry, joining an elite group of only two institutions to offer such distinguished graduate dental training. Our College of Dentistry is recognized for its ability to provide outstanding dental education and high quality dental care. It is also known for extensive community outreach efforts providing oral health services for over 120,000 patients to this day.”
Moreover, Dr. Salman underlined that Ajman University, in its quest for excellence in higher education, has always placed utmost importance on building strong relations with centres of excellence and expertise worldwide. Hence, AUST is very proud of its partnership with such a distinguished institution as the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. These two institutions, he believes, “share the same values and principles which push us forward towards excellence.”
In conclusion, the AUST Supreme President extended his thanks to the conference guests, participants, sponsors and organizing committee, whishing them all a very beneficial and enjoyable event.
On his part, Prof. Abdul Azim Ahmed, Director General of AUST Innovative Medical Environment Commission (IMEC), the umbrella under which this conference is organized, said that “the IMEC is an offshoot of the overall innovative environment that AUST attempts to achieve based on its comprehensive vision in its three dimensions: education, information and investment.” As a framework encompassing all the AUST 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. Prof. Abdul Azim expressed his hope that this conference would achieve its objectives and contribute to advancing the dental industry in the UAE and elsewhere.
Prof. Patrick J. Byrne, Immediate Past Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), praised the vision, determination and investment of Ajman University of Science and Technology to promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate dentistry. Expressing his pride at the RCSI-AUST's existing partnership in graduate dental education, Prof. Byrne stated that: ” Today dentistry presents new challenges with the very high expectations of our increasingly well informed patients, in an era of information technology which is growing exponentially. These expectations can only be met by the profession undertaking regular, high quality, continuing professional development and further graduate education.”
Afterwards, Dr. Salem Abu Fannas, Dean of the AUST College of Dentistry addressed the conference guests and participants saying that “the 2nd Advancing Excellence in Dental Care Conference will promote research and place our students in an international arena to mix with international well established masters of dentistry as a science and as a profession.” The event, he added, is also meant to provide an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas and share expertise, thus offering mutual support, education and inspiration.
The scientific program of this conference, which was accredited this year 12 CME by the UAE Ministry of Health, 12 CPD by the Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and 12 CPD by the Dubai Health Authority, consisted of three pre-conference workshops and eight sessions, with more than twenty papers presented.
The three pre-conference workshops which took place on Friday, April 22 were designed to be hands-on courses for participants to learn and practice some state-of-the-art procedures and techniques relevant to various dental care specialties. The first workshop was presented by Dr.Hasanen Al-Khafagy, Assistant Professor at the Department of Conservative Dentistry, AUST on the theme: “the Rotary Endodontic Safety.” The workshop aimed at practicing the maintenance of canal anatomy during root canal preparation, while reducing the incidence of instrument failure and canal aberrations. Dr. Franziska Beer, Assistant Professor at the Dental school of the University of Vienna, Austria conducted the second workshop entitled “Laser Assisted Periodontal Treatment”. Dr. Beer analyzed the rational of implementing lasers to periodontal therapy and presented the essential skills and safety measures to be mastered by periodontists in order to minimize the risk of laser accidents. The third workshop, which was presented by Dr. Mohamed Noushad, Associate Dentist at Houstons Dental Surgery in the United Kingdom, discussed the topic of “Endodontic Retreatment and Irrigation.” It touched upon the aetiology of root canal treatment failure, as well as the assessment and diagnosis of endodontic failure.
The eighteen lectures delivered during the conference panel sessions covered topics from a wide range of orodental specialties. Among the most eminent speakers, was Dr. Gerard Cleary, President of the Irish Dental Association, who gave a keynote lecture entitled “Porcelain Veneers: Tips and Techniques,” in which he discussed the various clinical applications and techniques of porcelain veneer restorations. From his side, Prof. Richard Van Noort, Professor of Restorative Dentistry at the Dental School of the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, presented a lecture on the topic “Dental Ceramics: New Opportunities.” Prof. Noort explored the various approaches to the use ceramics in dentistry and emphasized the challenges facing the ceramics research community.
Furthermore, Dr. Patrick J. Byrne, previous Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of surgeons in Ireland, delivered a presentation entitled “Clinical Photography for the Dental Team,” in which he discussed the principles, applications and relevance of clinical photography for the dental team. Prof. Bodo Hoffmeister, Chairman of the Department for Maxillofacial Surgery, Navigation and Robotics, Charité University Hospital, Berlin gave a lecture entitled “Status of Implant Procedures in Maxillofacial Reconstruction” in which he tackled the issue of maxillofacial reconstruction using dental or different implants to achieve both functional and aesthetical benefits for patients. On his part, Prof. St John Crean, Head of the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education at University of Central Lancashire, presented a lecture under the theme “Medicalised Problems in Dental Patients.” Prof. Crean stressed the importance for dental care professionals to keep abreast of their patients' medical status and possess an ability to recognize the relevance of these conditions and the impact they have upon treatment planning as well as the impact the dental care may have upon their patient's medical status.
The 2nd “Advancing Excellence in Dental Care” Conference has winded up Sunday afternoon with the reading of recommendations and conclusions. The participants highly appraise the excellent organization of this joint dental event and looked forward that the next year edition will be even better.
