The IFEA World Endodontic Congress (WEC) will be hosted by the British Endodontic Society (BES) in 2024. The highly anticipated event will take place at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow, entitled “Phases & Interfaces”. A comprehensive programme will include a range of workshops and seminars from world-leading speakers, with various social events and an extensive trade exhibition.
The BES is delighted to announce Dentsply Sirona as the Platinum Sponsor for WEC 2024. Not only does this partnership reflect shared values for furthering education in the endodontic field, but it also ensures highly relevant learning and networking opportunities for professionals.
Sharing some insights into the growth of endodontic equipment across the globe, Jean-Marie Guillemin – Marketing Director for Dentsply Sirona Endodontics – highlights two key areas:
“Over the past 20+ years, there has been tremendous progress in the development of endodontic motors and file technology. The clinical performance of these tools has the ability to elevate the treatment experience for clinicians and their patients. That’s why it’s important for manufacturers to think clinically when developing new motors and to ensure precision engineering that enables precise motor movements and makes a difference to the quality and outcome of the procedure. For this reason, our recently launched X-Smart Pro+ is the first endodontic motor we have ever developed, sourced and manufactured in-house at Dentsply Sirona.
“The other area of development relates to the second step of the endodontic procedure, irrigation and activation, where there still is a lot of potential for innovation. This step is critical for a successful clinical outcome, so we are looking for effective ways to improve disinfection without risking damage to the canals, for example, with our SmartLite Pro unit, now with a specific Endo Activator head.”
Aside from the intricacies of the procedure itself, practitioners face other challenges that impact their clinical workflows and results. Sarah Waldmann – Director of Global Clinical Education for Dentsply Sirona Endodontics – discusses three key difficulties that need to be overcome:
“How clinical challenges are managed depends on the dentist’s experience level. Those early in their careers may lack exposure to hands-on training, especially for professionals whose education was affected by the pandemic. This will need to be rectified in order to build clinical confidence with different procedures and become familiar with the specific products and materials available in the practice.
“Another challenge clinicians face is the time and effort required to stay up-to-date with the rapidly evolving ecosystem of technologies available to support endodontic treatment. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud-based solutions like DS Core are changing the game, offering new ways to deliver safe and compliant care through integrated networks of technology and people.
“The third area that clinicians can find difficult is building a streamlined yet adequately varied armamentarium of tools and materials to facilitate safe and predictable endodontic procedures.”
Regardless of the challenges, approximately 10% of the population require endodontic treatment,[i] so it is crucial that clinicians have the skills and confidence to deliver care. That’s why education remains key. Jean-Marie comments:
“It is important that undergraduate endodontic education is supported and continually improved worldwide, as this will ensure that clinicians enter the field with competence and confidence. In addition to developing effective products, we feel responsible for ensuring that clinicians know how to use these tools correctly – innovation and education go hand-in-hand, which is why training is in our DNA at Dentsply Sirona.”
This dedication to education is what aligns Dentsply Sirona with IFEA WEC so effectively. In fact, the organisation has supported Congresses for several years and is pleased to continue this tradition by working with the BES for 2024. Sarah says:
“The BES shares our ethos for education and training in endodontics. We have had very productive meetings where we are clearly working in the same direction. For 2024, the theme of ‘Phases & Interfaces’ resonates with us especially, because it corresponds with our own customer journey. Further still, being involved with this and similar events is important to help our organisation tailor our own educational offerings, ensuring we cover the topics that clinicians around the world need support in.
“Our sponsorship of IFEA WEC 2024 is an opportunity to show the world our continued commitment to high-quality endodontics. It aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate clinical standards, utilising the latest science and experience in the field to effectively develop our solutions.”
Jean-Marie adds:
“The Congress will also be an opportunity to put everything into practice, as we’ll be hosting some hands-on workshops as well as supporting speakers who will discuss various topics from development of early career clinicians to reciprocation advice and overcoming challenges with paediatric patients. We will also be hosting a social event for students and teachers to engage in an informal setting outside the sessions for some valuable peer-to-peer interaction. Of course, anyone wanting to know more about our legendary products – from ProTaper to WaveOne or Reciproc endodontic files, and our new DS Core integration platform – can visit our booth for more details.”
Dentsply Sirona’s involvement with IFEA WEC 2024 will strengthen the educational activities delivered throughout the programme. It will honour and reflect the passion shown by clinicians who provide endodontic treatment and give them the development opportunities they need to really thrive. Sarah concludes:
“IFEA is valuable for all clinicians with an interest in endodontics, regardless of their specialisation or career stage. That’s why we’re investing in what it offers and what it stands for.”
Register today for IFEA WEC 2024 at ifea2024glasgow.com/registration
For more information about the BES, or to join, please visit the website www.britishendodonticsociety.org.uk or call 07762 945847
[i] Pak J G, Fayazi S, White S N. Prevalence of periapical radiolucency and root canal treatment: a systematic review of cross-sectional studies. J Endod 2012; 38: 1170-1176.
