IDEM Singapore 2012 a sell-out: Conference and exhibition attract records numbers from the Asia Pacific

Well over a hundred Australian dentists were among the sell-out crowd of 2000 delegates that attended the International Dental Exhibition and Meeting (IDEM) in Singapore in April.

Dentists from across the region travelled to the event to dine on a smorgasbord of dental education delivered by a stellar line up of international presenters across multiple streams. Delegates could choose to listen to a variety of presentations across the gamut of dental disciplines or enjoy dedicated full day programmes from the likes of Dennis Tarnow, Urs Belser and Pascal and Michel Magne.

When combined with visitors to the trade exhibition, a total of 7,243 dental practitioners and professionals congregated at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre for IDEM Singapore 2012, an increase of close to 20 percent over the previous event staged in 2010.

Jointly organized by German exhibition organiser Koelnmesse and the Singapore Dental Association, the IDEM Singapore 2012 trade exhibition provided an expanded showcase of the latest dental products and equipment from across the globe, with a 20% increase in exhibition floor space. A total of 422 exhibitors from 36 countries, including 170 new to IDEM, presented exhibits ranging from preventive and restorative treatments to surgical equipment and laboratory tools.

With 10 national pavilions from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States, IDEM Singapore provided attendees with a good mix of innovations from both East and West.

Tickets to the Scientific Conference sold out three weeks prior to the event, as dental professionals seized the opportunity to keep updated on the latest technologies and best practices. With 17 renowned experts from Australia, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, the IDEM Singapore 2012 Scientific Conference presented participants with many thought-provoking discussions. Themed Advances and Controversies, the conference provided insights into the boons and banes of the latest technological breakthroughs in the world of dentistry.

The much anticipated Update of Reconstructive Dentistry conducted by Professor Urs Belser, University of Geneva School of Dental Medicine together with Associate Professor Pascal Magne and Michael Magne from the University of Southern California, gave a comprehensive update on the latest developments around aesthetic dentistry. Presenting collated data on anterior implants, they led a discussion on the rationale for pre-operative analysis, decision-making procedures, and clinical/laboratory step-by-step procedures. The discussion continued with critical appraisals of evolutionary implant designs and restorative components such as high-strength ceramic elements derived from CAD/CAM processes.

"IDEM Singapore 2012 provided an all-round experience for participants with a good mix of Trade Fair, Scientific Conference and hands-on workshops," said Michael Dreyer, Asia Pacific Vice President, Koelnmesse. "The knowledge and insights gained by participants over these three days will help accelerate the progress of the industry as a whole, resulting in more sophisticated dental offerings and in turn, a more robust dentistry market. Once again, we record an increased number of exhibitors and visitors, establishing IDEM Singapore as an important event in the region's dentistry calendar. As dental markets across the region prepare to embrace the globalization of dentistry and the opportunities it presents, IDEM Singapore will continue to play a strategic role to facilitate this growth."