SINGAPORE/LEIPZIG, Germany: With final participation numbers having been announced, the International Dental Exhibition & Meeting (IDEM) has confirmed its position as a major dental meeting for the Asia Pacific region. An improved scientific programme and a higher number of exhibitors drew again more than 6,000 of dental professionals to Singapore. Exhibitors and the organiser said that they were content with the quantity and quality of visitors this year.

IDEM, which is organised by Koelnmesse Singapore Ltd, is held biannually in cooperation with the Singapore Dental Association (SDA) and the FDI World Dental Federation.

This year’s scientific programme was focusing on implantology and aesthetics—two of the most thriving sectors in the Asia Pacific dental market. Although sales figures were hit significantly by the global financial crisis in 2008/09, growth rates are expected to pick up when the economy starts to recover, a May 2009 industry report stated. According to the same report, sales figures of dental implants in the Asia Pacific region experienced double-digit growth rates back in 2008.

Implantology was a big part of this year’s trade exhibition, which saw increased numbers of dental surgical equipment and bone grafting tools to aid dental implant procedures on display. Besides classical equipment like instruments, units or fillings, digital dentistry specialists were also presented 3D imaging systems that aim to help streamlining communication between dentists and laboratories and thus improve long-term treatment outcomes.

For the first time, manufacturers from Slovenia and the Republic of Columbia were showcasing their portfolio in Singapore. The British Dental Trade Association hosted their first national pavilion at the show alongside joint participations of Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, France and Switzerland. The US and German dental industry hosted the largest groups with more than 20 companies representing all sectors in dentistry.

Michael Dreyer, Vice-President Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, told Dental tribune Asia Pacific that despite the organisational changes and the economic turndown, IDEM 2010 has been in line with the last edition in 2008. He said that his company will aim to improve the meeting further to make it available for more professional groups like dental assistants.

Singapore Dental Association president Dr Lewis Lee said that that the decision to hold pre-congress courses as well Master Classes this year has been accepted well by most congress attendees. He announced plans to broaden the scientific programme in 2012 incorporating more topics like dental materials, orthodontics or oral medicine. A larger number of hands-on workshops will be offered as well, he added.

Delegates that joined the first pre-congress sessions on Thursday morning confirmed that the programme was a large improvement over the offerings in 2008. Most of the people interviewed said that due to these changes they were able to attend most of the sessions over the course of the meeting.

“I think the congress was pretty well organised and there was less overlapping which made it easier to get into more sessions,” said one dentist from Singapore.

According to Mr Dreyer, preparations for the next edition of IDEM in 2012 have already begun and first speakers have been announced. Amongst others, there will be sessions on the management of endodontic disasters, the biological effects of current restorative materials on the pulp-dentin complex or current concepts on posts and cores.

The next edition of IDEM is scheduled to take place 20–22 April 2012.