Interview of the congress chairs

Interview with Professor Henning Schliephake and Professor Florian Beuer, chairs of the EAO-DGI joint meeting 2023

What is the main focus of the congress this year?

Henning Schliephake
The first focus is advances in digital technology, which is something that’s being talked about more and more. AI is creeping into many areas of medicine, particularly diagnostics. Big data will give dentists the chance to assess personal risk profiles like we’ve done with other diseases. In the future we’ll potentially use big data to establish an individual patient’s prognosis or risk profile.
Augmented reality has moved from theory to practice over the past couple of years, for instance with headsets that project data into the surgeon’s field of vision. This kind of tool will probably become part of mainstream dentistry within a very short time. Tools like these will mean that the surgeon can directly match the planning data to the surgical procedure and get real-time feedback.
The second topic is the frail patient. Patients are getting older and older, with comorbidities and their associated risk factors. We have to be aware of that and identify frail patients early on so we can respond with appropriate planning.

Florian Beuer

The third focus of this year’s congress is peri-implantitis, which will be the theme for the Battle of Concepts. Peri-implantitis is a topic that we still don’t know enough about. There are many treatment approaches and associated questions. At the same time, exciting new discoveries are emerging that should help identify patients who are at risk in the future. The goal isn’t just to treat peri-implantitis once it’s been identified, but to be much more active in prevention, then take particular care of those patients at risk.
As well as these three main themes, I’m also really looking forward to the German-speaking programme, which delegates will be able to hear in the language of their choice thanks to this year’s simultaneous translation. The first DGI session, which is on personalised implant dentistry, features chairs from Germany and Austria and I know it will be a must-see. Berlin has its own humour, known as ‘Berliner Schnauze’, while Vienna is famous for ‘Wiener Schmäh’, a brand of wit and irony that will ensure this is a lively and engaging discussion!

What are the unique features of the EAO-DGI 2023 Berlin joint meeting?

Florian Beuer
One of the things that’s unique about this year’s congress is that we’ve planned it twice, as it was originally supposed to take place in 2020. That’s why we’ve called it ‘Berlin Reloaded’. We’ve learned a lot from going through the process twice, and have got to know our partners, at the EAO really well. That’s enabled us to build a really interesting and cutting-edge programme.
The DGI has more than 8,500 members, so this will be a joint meeting between Europe’s biggest implant dentistry organisation and biggest national association, which is very exciting.
Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in Europe, and of course it’s incredibly historic. Delegates will be able to combine discovering the history of the 20th century with learning about the latest developments in implant dentistry.

Henning Schliephake
As Florian said, Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in Europe, and I’m sure the congress is going to be a really vibrant event. We’re expecting lots of interaction, and it will be a great opportunity to discuss and exchange new ideas.
A new feature this year is the table clinics, which mean speakers and the audience around the table can interact directly. We’ve also refined the Battle of Concepts session to make it even more impactful. We’d previously opted for live surgery, but as the pace of this can be quite slow we’ve opted for videos featuring three pre-recorded surgical procedures this year. This will mean the cases can be presented in a really comprehensive way. The audience and the live panel will be able to hone in on key clinical aspects, maximising the opportunity for clinical discussion.
Another new feature will be the use of AI to provide translation into 26 languages, which will undoubtedly make the content more easily available to a wider range of delegates.

What should delegates expect from this year’s Battle of Concepts?

Henning Schliephake
The Battle of Concepts will explore the three approaches to treating peri-implantitis, which are non-surgical treatment, the resective approach, and the regenerative approach. All three have their indications, along with pros, cons and limitations. These will be discussed alongside footage of three surgical procedures. Experts representing each approach will explain the benefits and limitations of each strategy. By the end of the session the audience will have a clear understanding of the three different approaches, along with strategies for managing and treating peri-implantitis in their daily practice.

Florian Beuer
Delegates can really expect some to hear different thoughts about peri-implantitis during this session, which will look at both the role of the immune response in peri-implantitis, plus associated factors caused by the shape of the prosthesis and the material it’s made from. These are factors that are often neglected in discussions about peri-implantitis. The shape impacts accessibility, while the type of material can influence the health of the soft tissue as well. Perhaps most importantly, the focus of the session won’t just be on development and treatment of peri-implantitis, but on preventing it from developing in the first place.

We're hearing a lot about big data and AI at the moment. How is this relevant to dentistry?

Henning Schliephake
As with many advanced technologies, you probably won’t be using big data or AI in your office immediately, but it’s coming and will probably be a reality within as little as three years. Even now, when we look at X-rays we use algorithms that can identify critical features, and big data should be able to provide clinicians with better information, for instance on the individual risk-profile of a specific patient. One of the speakers taking part in the plenary on big data and AI will also be looking at data protection and some of the other issues we need to consider when talking about personalised medical data.

Florian Beuer
We’re using more and more digital devices into our offices, and AI is going to become increasingly important over the next few years. This part of the programme will provide some really interesting insights into how AI works and how it will be used in the future. There’s a lot more to come. We’re very proud to have some of the leading experts in the field on the programme and to be kicking off the congress by discussing this important topic.

Is a patient ever too old to have implant treatment?

Henning Schliephake
Like all things in life, you’re never too old, but you might not be fit enough. It’s not a matter of age, but rather physical and mental health. Older people develop medical comorbidities that can make some treatments quite hazardous. They may also have reduced manual dexterity and be unable to properly clean their restorations. A decline in mental health, such as the onset of dementia, can mean patients are unable to follow maintenance regimes. That’s relevant if we’re planning a very complex prosthesis or restoration.

Florian Beuer
Instead of asking if a patient is too old to have implant treatment, we need to ask whether they will be able to take care of their restorations in the future. The congress will feature sessions on medical risk factors, including the patient’s mental health and how that relates to viable treatment options. We’ll also look at the subject from the patient’s perspective, asking questions like whether they feel satisfied with their treatment and are capable of managing day-to-day problems.

This year's congress is using AI to provide live translation into multiple languages. What impact do you expect that to have?

Henning Schliephake
Translating congress sessions in real time formerly depended on human translators, which meant the number of languages we could offer was limited. This year we’re excited to be piloting live translation using AI, which will enable people to experience the congress live in 26 languages. This also ties in with the theme of the Berlin congress, originally planned for 2020, which was ‘Tear down this wall’. Breaking down language barriers and helping people who aren’t fluent in English to participate in the congress is very important.

Florian Beuer
This is a great opportunity for people from all over the world to hear the presentations in their native language. If you want to, you can go to the German sessions and hear them in a completely different language, such as Mandarin. That’s something we’ve not been able to offer before. So as well as visiting a city that’s as exciting and historic as Berlin, almost all our delegates should be able to enjoy hearing the sessions in their language of choice.