19th International Symposium On Dental Hygiene - Final Report
Cape Town International Convention Centre 14 – 17 August 2013
The Oral Hygienists’ Association of South Africa (OHASA) proudly hosted the 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa between the 14th and 17th of August 2013.
The Cape Town International Convention Centre
The theme for this Symposium was: Oral Health - Vital link in achieving total health.
All health care professionals across the globe were invited to attend, contribute and participate in a scientific African and Global exploration to:
- uncover the vital role of dental hygienists as primary health care providers in complete health care
- unite the dental hygiene profession and other disciplines in Dentistry and Medicine
The 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene was a remarkable event as the following concrete milestones in the history of dental hygiene were reached in 2013 and celebrated by the dental hygiene profession globally:
- 100 years since legislation was enacted to allow dental hygiene practice in the USA
- 40 years since the first graduation from South African Schools of Dentistry
- 35 years since the formation of OHASA
- 1st time the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene was held in South Africa and the African continent
This event was attended by 615 registered delegates from 30 countries providing another golden opportunity to continue a mutually beneficial alliance to achieve the shared goals of complete health care. In addition there were 88 representatives from 31 Medical and Dental Trader Companies giving a total of 703 attendees at the event.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) consisted of:
| Marie Ferreira | Past President | Chairperson 2013 ISDH Chairperson Scientific Programme Treasurer |
| Elna van der Ham | Immediate Past President | Vice Chairperson 2013 ISDH Chairperson Marketing Committeer |
| Stella Lamprecht | President | Exhibition Liaison |
| Elaine Johnson | Meeting Notes Facebook & Website | |
| Gail Smith | Community Project Liaison | |
| Nazeela Berdien | Marketing |
Embassy Conferences & Events was appointed as Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) in order to assist with the planning and execution of an event of this magnitude. I also wish to thank Angela Fundak, Leah Littlejohn and Sue Aldenhoven for their valuable support, input and guidance during the planning process of this event.
Opening Ceremony
An electric atmosphere welcomed each and every person from around the globe when they arrived at the Cape Town International Convention Centre to attend the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday night 14th of August 2013. A spectacular IFDH Country Members’ Flag Ceremony started the evening with unforgettable memories and a lot of excitement!
Out of Africa entertainment with Drum Café and Vicky Sampson singing ‘The African Dream’
This was followed by proud ‘Out of Africa’ entertainment plus an interaction drumming session with the attendees to experience the South African rhythm and to discover, share and enjoy warm and true South African hospitality. Thereafter, the audience was addressed by Stella Lamprecht (OHASA President), Marie Ferreira (Chair 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene) and Maria Perno Goldie (IFDH President), who declared the Symposium open and invited all delegates to the Welcome Reception for drinks and canapés as attendees walked the floor of the exhibition
Interaction drumming session with the audience
Scientific Programme
Four parallel sessions were offered over three days with outstanding quality and a range that were of great interest and benefit to all health care providers and to each and every delegate who attended. All these sessions were a true reflection of the global profile of the IFDH as well as the diverse practice profile of dental hygienists around the globe and focused on all aspects of dental hygiene practice to uncover the vital role of dental hygienists as primary health care providers in complete health care. All sessions ran extremely well. The scientific programme also supported the approach recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that prioritises evidence based practice.
All sessions attracted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which is a requirement of all health care practitioner registration at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). A complete CPD solution was provided by Medical Practice Consulting (MPC) to all delegates of the 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Cape Town from 15th to 17th August 2013. These included registration at the physical event and issuing of a CPD certificate electronically to their official Professional Health Care Council and track their CPD point status, free of charge.
Twenty four poster presentations were submitted by delegates worldwide and displayed in the exhibition hall.
Trade Exhibition
An associated Dental and Medical Industry Exhibition, managed by the Dental Traders Association of South Africa (DTASA), ran in conjunction with the Symposium, which offered exhibiting companies and organisations the opportunity to showcase their products and services to an international audience of highly focussed delegates. Various main sponsorship packages, including complimentary exhibition floor space, and other additional sponsorship opportunities were available to companies and organisations to demonstrate their support for the dental hygiene profession as well as offering exposure to a high profile audience. In addition, as part of the various sponsorship packages available, space and location was a key feature of the sponsorship packages available. In effect the higher the sponsorship the better location of the exhibition booth available.
Dental and Medical Industry Exhibition
The following companies and organisations exhibited during the event:
| 3M ESPE | First Medical & Dental | Oral B |
| Aspen Pharmaceuticals | GlaxoSmithKline | Pepsodent |
| Atka Pharmaceuticals | Hain Life Science | Prime Dental |
| BriteSmile | Inova | Sirona |
| Colgate Palmolive | Inter Africa Dental | Smile of Joy |
| Dental Discounts | Ivodent | Sunstar |
| Dental Innovations | Johnson & Johnson | TePe |
| Dental Protection (MPS) | LM Instruments OY | Wright Millners |
| Dental Warehouse | Medi Dent | Wrigley |
| Dentsply | Megadent | 2016 ISDH Host Country |
| Equity Dental | OHASA | (Switzerland) |
Gala Dinner with Sunstar - 'The Great Star of South Africa'
The Gala Dinner with Sunstar was held at Moyo located on the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. With valuable support and generous sponsorship from Sunstar – ‘The Great Star of South Africa’, this quality event was a great success and delegates experienced a truly unique modern sophisticated African evening with coal fire and seafood to a wide range of meats being cooked the traditional South African way, plus “potjiekos” and other delicacies.
The prestigious World Dental Hygienist Award Ceremony was held during the Gala Dinner, which was the highlight of the evening. The International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) has been the grateful beneficiary of the tremendous generosity of the Sunstar Foundation who has provided valuable support to continue the development of the IFDH and the cornerstone of this support is the provision of the World Dental Hygienists Awards that has become a significant component of the recognition for dental hygiene practice. This tri-annual award provides an opportunity to raise the profile of research excellence and optimal standards of health care on a global platform. The World Dental Hygienists Awards also elevates the IFDH and its members to a desirable level of recognition within the diverse spectrum of oral health professionals. The Award has become synonymous with professional excellence and gained well-deserved reverence as a valuable addition to any resume. Congratulations to the 2013 recipient: Ms D E Slot, Mr M Rui Araújo and Mr T Blom.
Apart from all the rain that evening, everybody had a fabulous time and great fun with old friends and colleagues across the globe!
Finance
I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the following Main Sponsors for their valuable support and generous sponsorship towards the 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene:
| SUNSTAR Cullinan Diamond Sponsor – ‘The Great Star of South Africa’ World Dental Hygienist Award Sponsor Gala Dinner Sponsor | ||
| Colgate Platinum Sponsor | GlaxoSmithKline Platinum Sponsor | Johnson & Johnson Platinum Sponsor |
| Wrigley Silver Sponsor Refreshment Break Sponsor | Dental Protection Silver Sponsor |
| Oral B IFDH HOD Dinner Sponsor Symposium Delegates’ Name Badge Sponsor Symposium Scientific Programme Sponsor | Ivodent Symposium Delegates’ Bag Sponsor |
| Keynote Speaker Sponsors Procter & Gamble BioGaia Oral B) |
The key to this event was the number of registered delegates. However, although less than 1000 delegates attended the meeting and no sponsorship could be secured for some of the social events, OHASA still managed to generate a small profit from hosting this prestigious event.
Conclusion
It was a great honour and real pleasure to host the 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in our beautiful country. On behalf of the Local Organising Committee, OHASA and South Africa, I wish to thank each and every registered delegate, speakers, session chairs, main sponsors, MPC, DTASA, exhibitors, PCO and all other role players for their attendance, contribution and participation in making this prestigious event a great success!
Warmest regards from South Africa
Marie Ferreira
Chair 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene
2013 ISDH Country breakdown of paid delegates who attended the event:
| Australia 31 | Austria 2 |
| Belgium 1 | Bolivia 1 |
| Canada 11 | Denmark 8 |
| Finland 3 | Ireland 2 |
| Israel 12 | Italy 6 |
| Japan 6 | Korea 2 |
| Namibia 2 | Netherlands 14 |
| New Zealand 12 | Norway 12 |
| Oman 1 | Portugal 2 |
| Russia 3 | Saudi Arabia 2 |
| Slovakia 3 | South Africa 349 |
| South Korea 3 | Spain 2 |
| Sweden 38 | Switzerland 18 |
| United Arab Emirates 3 | United Kingdom 15 |
| USA 39 |