ITI World Symposium 2010 successfully closed

GENEVA, Switzerland: Last week, the International Team for Implantology (ITI), a leading academic organisation dedicated to the promotion of evidence-based education and research in the field of implant dentistry, welcomed more than 4,000 participants from all over the world to the 2010 edition of its much anticipated ITI World Symposium.

During the three-day event, 113 experts from 26 countries provided a springboard for lively debate and discussion that continued beyond the official programme. The event provided simultaneous translation in 12 languages for the main programme and allowed participants to play a more active role in the satellite programme with its opportunities for direct discussion.

“The ITI is fortunate that it can call on such a wide variety of opinion leaders in implant dentistry on an international basis to share their knowledge,” said Stephen Chen, Chairman of the Scientific Programme Committee. “This pool of expertise is the foundation for the success of the ITI World Symposium 2010 and reinforced its well deserved reputation as the most prestigious academic event in the implant dentistry calendar.”

“Every effort was made to ensure the smooth running of the event and give participants the best possible Symposium experience,” commented Friedrich Buck, Executive Director of the ITI. “We also took the decision to hold an industry exhibition that drew 38 exhibitors from Europe as well as the USA, giving participants the opportunity to review some of the latest developments in the field and discuss their needs directly with manufacturers.”

Rounding off the event was the Research award which attracted a great deal of interest. Competition for the nine presentation slots was fierce and the total of 118 posters testified to the central role played by research among the ITI membership as well as their readiness to share results.

The ITI also celebrated its 30^th anniversary. Established in 1980 by a small group of visionary pioneers led by Prof Dr André Schroeder and Dr Fritz Straumann, the organisation has championed the cause of implant dentistry playing a continuous role in its development to the present day.

Today, the ITI is the largest non-governmental organisation worldwide to award research grants in implant dentistry and related fields and has a leading role in continuing dental education. In addition, the ITI supports the future of the field through its Scholarship programme scheme, which annually awards around 20 one-year ITI Scholarships at one of its 17 Scholarship Centers around the world to young clinicians.

The next ITI World Symposium will take place in 2014.