Olaf Sauerbier elected president of IDM dental body

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 9. September 2026

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic: International Dental Manufacturers (IDM) has elected new board officers for the 2026–2028 term. Olaf Sauerbier, managing director of German dental manufacturer VOCO and president of the Federation of the European Dental Industry, will lead the organisation as president, succeeding Samantha Cheetham, who had held the role since September 2024.

Representatives of IDM’s member associations unanimously elected the new board officers at the IDM General Assembly, held during the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress in Prague. Tim Long, chief commercial officer of A-dec and chair of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, was chosen as president-elect, and Yutaka Shinozaki, president of GC Corp. and director of the Japan Dental Trade Association, was elected vice-president.

At the general assembly, members attending in person and virtually received updates on global oral health from the World Health Organization and FDI World Dental Federation. They also discussed issues facing the global dental manufacturing industry. A key topic was the growing regulatory burden on dental manufacturers. IDM said that the increasing complexity of and divergence between regulatory frameworks across regions are leading to higher costs, slower innovation and potential limitations on product availability. Members also discussed the growing threat that counterfeit dental products pose to patient safety and legitimate manufacturers.

Sauerbier commented: “As IDM president, my priorities are clear: we must address the growing regulatory burden that threatens innovation and product availability, and we must take a firm stand against counterfeit dental products that put patients at risk. IDM will be the voice of the industry on both fronts.”

IDM advocates for the interests of the global dental manufacturing industry with governments, international organisations and the dental profession. It represents approximately 1,900 dental manufacturers and suppliers across Europe and North America and in Australia, Brazil and Japan. The next IDM General Assembly will be held on 18 March 2027 during the International Dental Show in Cologne in Germany.

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