The Faculty of Dentistry recently held the 19th Updates in Dentistry Conference (JAO), now an established event for industry professionals. The event, which took place on Saturday 3 October on the Sant Cugat Campus, brought together more than 1,300 professionals from across the dental sector, including dental hygienists, who had the opportunity to update their knowledge and enhance their clinical skills.

The event featured an extensive programme comprising 25 lectures for dentists, 7 clinical cases, 10 lectures for dental hygienists and assistants, 11 workshops and over 60 speakers. During the event, postgraduate teaching staff, students and alums who are recognised experts in their respective fields shared their knowledge and discussed the latest treatments and techniques in areas such as oral surgery, integrated dentistry, endodontics, temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain, dental practice management, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, geriatric dentistry and dentistry for special-needs patients, periodontics, preventive dentistry and restorative dentistry.

The opening remarks were delivered by Dr Sandra Fernández, Institutional vice-dean for the Faculty, who described the conference as a valuable opportunity for the Faculty of Dentistry community to meet and connect. In this regard, she noted that “for all of us at the Faculty, it is an immense source of pride to celebrate another edition of the Updates in Dentistry Conference, an event that enables us to share knowledge, reconnect with colleagues and former students and strengthen the ties that bring us together. This gathering also reflects the Faculty’s close collaboration with leading companies in the sector and their shared commitment to the education and professional development of both students and industry professionals.”

Another event highlight was the presentation of the now traditional Dr Miquel Cortada Awards for Scientific Excellence. The Faculty’s vice-deans, Dr Akram Ali and Dr Marta Satorres, were the individuals charged with announcing the award-winning projects. The award for Best Bachelor’s Degree Final Project went to Beverly Didier de Saint Amand for her project “Evaluation of the effects of dry versus wet needling on masseter muscle electromyographic activity”. Meanwhile, Manal Sarsri Reffassi received the award for Best Master’s Degree Final Project for the study “Understanding peri-implantitis occurrence and recurrence following treatment: A patient-centred study”.

4th edition of the Career Forum

The programme also featured the fourth edition of the Career Forum, organised by the Alumni & Careers Department to foster networking between students and companies in the sector. Present at this year’s edition were eight companies and the UIC Careers Stand, providing Faculty students further insight into the professional world through information on job opportunities and the chance to connect with professionals.

Furthermore, the event once again set aside time for alums to reconnect. On this occasion, the Class of 2006 celebrated its 20th anniversary, with 60 alums present at the event. Frederic Van Dyck, director of the University’s Alumni Department, and Dr Sandra Fernández, Faculty vice-dean, welcomed attendees to the event. The gathering featured contributions from several alums and teaching staff members, whose heartfelt words reflected on the attendees’ personal and professional journeys and highlighted the importance of maintaining and strengthening the bonds between former classmates, lecturers and the Faculty’s university community.

The 19th Updates in Dentistry Conference was possible thanks to the support and collaboration of 25 leading industry companies, which showcased their latest advances in dental technology and materials.