On Saturday, 7 October, more than 1.000 dental professionals came together on the Sant Cugat Campus for the 16th Updates in Dentistry Conference. They were able to network and update and improve their skills thanks to the numerous sessions and workshops that were given.

This year’s edition featured participation of lecturers and graduate students in the different areas of dentistry who gave lectures on the key specialties of the sector. Both dentists and hygienists were able to learn about the most current techniques and treatments in surgery, integrated clinical practice, endodontics, dental aesthetics, dental management, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, special-needs patients and gerodontology, periodontics, preventive dentistry, and prosthesics.

During the conference, Dr Sandra Fernández, vice dean of the Faculty, presented the Dr Miquel Cortada Award for Best Final Degree Project, and Dr Conrado Aparicio, vice-rector of UIC Barcelona Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, presented the award for Best Final Master’s Degree Project. In the first category, Júlia Pallarés was recognised for her project “Influence of augmented reality and freehand technique on the precision of autotransplantation of teeth in fresh sockets: Development and initial phase of a fresh cadaver study.” Pablo Hernández was given the award for the best Final Master’s Degree Project for his study “A randomized controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a combination of autologous mesenchymal stem cells and biomaterial in jaw bone regeneration prior to dental implant placement in comparison to standard autologous bone block grafting: MAXIBONE”.

This edition also included a very special novelty: the Career Forum, a forum organised by the Faculty of Dentistry and the Alumni & Careers Department at UIC Barcelona. The forum included participation of national and international companies that brought the work world closer to the students of the Faculty.

Finally, and in keeping with the tradition started in the last edition, the conference included the 20th anniversary celebration for the UIC Barcelona Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry Class of 2003. The event held in the Campus Auditorium and led by Dr Sandra Fernández, institutional vice-dean of the Faculty, gathered 39 alumni who once again were able to meet with their graduating class peers and professional colleagues.

As Dr Fernández said, “Celebrating this day again this year and reuniting so many alumni and colleagues fills us with pride. It reminds us that, not only do we train great professionals who never stop learning, but we have also created a personal and close bond between all of us who have studied and are part of the Faculty.”

The 16th Update in Dentistry Conference included the participation of 22 industry-related companies that presented the latest innovations in dental technology and material.