The conference was opened by professor Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, then dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Representatives of the District Medical Council in Warsaw also spoke during the opening.
-Pediatric dentistry is a very broad topic that requires special tenderness and empathy due to the sensitivity of patients. The challenges here are huge: from understanding the needs of the youngest to ensuring their comfort during a visit to the office. Not only treatment is important, but also building trust between medical experts and young patients and their parents -said at the opening doctor Artur Drobniak, president of the District Medical Council in Warsaw.
The oral microbiome is more important than many people think
Professor Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk (in the lecture ‘Oral hygiene as a prerequisite for human health’) presented evidence of relations between human health, oral diseases and systemic diseases and the microbiom of the oral cavity. The expert drew attention to factors modifying the microbiome and methods of developing its health-promoting effect, such as proper nutrition and hygiene. She also presented research on the knowledge and attitudes of parents, children and youth towards oral hygiene.
Modern technologies
Several lectures and workshops were devoted to modern technologies. Doctor Matteo Basso from the University of Milan (lecture ‘Biomimetic and bioactive technologies: essential solutions for everyday clinical success’) spoke about biomimetic materials.
-Biomimetic materials can mimic the behavior of organic tissues or bioactive materials that are capable of interacting with living tissues. The group of biomimetic and bioactive materials includes glass ionomer cement and glass-hybrid restorative systems. Depending on the technologies used, different materials may have different biophysical and mechanical properties - said the expert from Italy, emphasizing that clinicians should be aware that in some cases it is worth using this particular material for fillings.
Good communication with patients and their parents
Experts discussed not only strictly medical topics during the conference. An interesting lecture was delivered by doctor of social sciences Antonina Doroszewska from the Medical University of Warsaw. It concerned communication, just like the workshop conducted by this expert. Doctor Doroszewska was looking for answers to questions bothering many pediatric dentists: Why does the parent grumble at the dentist? Why is the child not willing to open the mouth and allow the oral cavity to be examined? How to talk to hear and understand each other? What to do to convey information effectively? How to involve the caregiver in the child’s oral care process? What to pay attention to when communicating in difficult situations?
About antibiotic therapy and more
In addition to lectures, there were also discussions. An interesting panel was devoted to odontogenic infection focuses in the oral cavity in children. Professor Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk and professor Tomasz Kaczmarzyk (from Jagiellonian University) talked about the principles of antibiotic therapy in these cases. Professor Agnieszka Mielczarek (from the Medical University of Warsaw) presented research results on root canal treatment and selected clinical cases, among others. Professor Kazimierz Szopiński talked about radiological diagnostics in odontogenic infections. And still other experts told about the specific course of these infections, indications and contraindications for endodontic treatment in children and consequences of wrong decisions in the treatment of inflammation of the tooth pulp.
From the reconstruction of milk teeth to introduction to resuscitation – workshops
The workshops were very popular among conference participants. Some of them were even repeated one more time. Many of them concerned purely practical issues, such as reconstruction of milk teeth, filling of canals in special clinical situations, or reconstruction of the first molar. Each workshop consisted of a shorter theoretical part and a longer practical part (in total it lasted 2 hours or longer), so each participant had an opportunity to practice selected techniques.
Representatives of our University participated in the opening of the conference and in the lectures. Among those present were habilitated doctor Piotr Luliński, dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, professor Tadeusz Grochowiecki, vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Jarosław Prugar, vice-chancellor.
In addition to the previously mentioned doctor Artur Drobniak, the District Medical Council was represented by doctor Dariusz Paluszek, vice-president of the District Medical Council, chairman of the commission for dentists.
