News in pediatric dentistry - tackled at a scientific conference

About 170 specialists, students and medical residents participated in the national scientific-practical conference with international participation "News in Pediatric Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow". The event took place on March 29 and 30, 2024, and was organized by ”Ion Lupan” Department of Pediatric Oromaxillofacial Surgery and Pedodontics and ”Natalia Gheorghiu” Department of Pediatric Surgery, Orthopedics and Anesthesiology of ”Nicolae Testemitanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, in the context of World Oral Health Day.

The scientific event was inaugurated by the rector of Nicolae Testemitanu University, professor Emil Ceban, who mentioned that the event emphasized the importance of dental hygiene in preventing oral cavity diseases, but also in maintaining the health of the whole body. "In this way, governments, health promotion associations and societies are alerted to the need for financial support of prevention, diagnosis and treatment programs concerning oral diseases. It is necessary to initiate prevention activities from an early age, when pathological processes are still in their early, reversible stages. In this way, people will be spared excessive costs, invasive procedures, stress and pain. This scientific forum also aims to capitalize on new opportunities for training, research, financing and implementation in the field of pediatrics, a fact that will contribute to the development of a new qualitative stage in the theory and practice of pediatrics in the Republic of Moldova",  Rector Ceban noted. 

For her part,  state secretary of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Angela Paraschiv highlighted  the importance of the scientific conference, which puts urgent problems in dentistry on the agenda of the medical community. "Oral health is one of the priorities included in the National Program for the Prevention and Combating of Non-Communicable Diseases, a component of the National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030". The program envisages the elimination of risk factors, such as unhealthy food, especially the consumption of sugar, alcohol and tobacco products, the impact of which we aimed to reduce by 25%. In this regard, it is important to strengthen our efforts both in terms of prevention and diagnosis, as well as treatment. Of course, the basic component is prevention, that's why education must start in childhood, by promoting educational programs for children regarding proper oral  care and explaining the impact of risk factors on health", the representative of the Ministry of Health specified.

Academician Eva Gudumac, university professor at Natalia Gheorghiu Department of Surgery, Orthopedics and Pediatric Anesthesiology, also mentioned other alarming problems of public health and pediatrics: low birth rate, increased morbidity, the increase in the number of children born prematurely - one of the reasons being considered excessive migration.

The guest of honor of the conference was Dr. Consuela Norina Forna, university professor, head of the Department of Implantology and Dental Prosthetics at Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania, who, in appreciation of the contribution to the development of health sciences and the fruitful collaboration with  Nicolae Testemitanu University,  was elected an honorary member of ASM.

The scientific event brought together specialists from Romania, Turkey, the USA and our country, who addressed various topics, such as: current and prospective projects in the rehabilitation of substance loss in adults and children in the oromaxillofacial area, topical issues  in pediatric dentistry focused on neurostomatological assistance, duodeno-gastro-esophageal reflux disease in children, minimally invasive techniques in pedodontic practice, cervical adenitis in children, etc.

At the same time, workshops and thematic educational courses were held during the conference: Pathology of the oral cavity in children; Restoration of coronal integrity in the temporary dentition; Risks of malignancy of odontogenic cysts in children; Alternative presurgical methods in premaxillary management, etc.