IDEM Singapore 2008 a success

IDEM Singapore 2008 has continued to grow in popularity as the key meeting in the Asia Pacific, drawing record numbers of visitors to a comprehensive educational conference and a trade show packed with the latest product developments on offer for the dental profession. IDEM 2008 presented the products of 384 exhibitors from 34 countries and attracted 6,370 trade visitors from 56 countries. The top visiting countries were Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India and Australia with the biggest percentage increase in visitors coming from Australia (+ 55 percent), China (+ 44 percent), Japan (+ 65 percent) and Malaysia (+ 27 percent).

Australian manufacturers MDSA, William Green, Hogies Australia and the Australian Fresh Breath Clinic participated in the first ever Australaian Pavilion. Myofunctional Research and SDI also exhibited in conjunction wih their established local distributors.

"This was our first IDEM and we had lots of interest," said Mr John Green, CEO of William Green Pty Ltd. "The VacuJet Plus we manufacture is a fully self-contained cart system that is unique in the world so we were looking for dealers rather than direct sales. In that regard, we walked away with strong possibilities in several markets both in Asia and other parts of the world."

2007 New Zealand Exporter of the Year, Triodent, also exhibited for the first time.

"We sold out of all our stock on the first day," said Mr Simon McDonald, Managing Director of Triodent. "This was our first IDEM and our first show anywhere in Asia so we didn't know what to expect. Direct sales exceeded our expectations and it was very profitable for us. We finished on Sunday with many new customers, new dealers and even some potential new suppliers. So overall it was very successful for us."

The increasing success of IDEM as the pivotal meeting in the Asia Pacific region has been further underpinned by a worldclass conference program. The theme for IDEM 2008 was "Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice". As part of professional continuing dental education for clinicians, IDEM's scientific programme provided a comprehensive range of seminars that covers the latest evidence-based concepts in the practice of dentistry, and that attracted an attendance of 1,418 registrants.

Straumann sponsored ITI fellows Professor Daniel Buser (University of Berne, Switzerland); Dr Stephen Chen (University of Melbourne, Australia); Professor Lisa Heitz-Mayfield (University of Western Australia); Professor Heinz Kniha (University of Munich, Germany); and Professor Hans- Peter Weber (Harvard Dental School, USA).

Other world class presenters included Professor Steven Offenbacher (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA); Professor Edward J Swift (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA); Professor Shimon Friedman (University of Toronto, Canada); Associate Professor Patrick S K Tseng (National University of Singapore); Dr Michael Martin (UK); Professor Gregory King (University of Washington, USA); Professor John G Thomas (West Virginia University, USA); and Associate Professor Khalid Almas (University of Connecticut, USA).