For the past 120 years, the FDI World Dental Congress has united the global oral health community

In the late 1800s, there was already a need to disseminate scientific advances in dentistry, share evolutions in clinical knowledge, improve dental hygiene and reinforce standards in dental education. At the time, most dentists were poorly trained, and even those who had received more robust training, especially in the USA, had the desire to learn more from key figures in dentistry. Thanks to his determination, FDI founder Dr Charles Godon was able to provide an answer to these pressing challenges by establishing the Annual International Dental Congress (what we call the FDI World Dental Congress today). 

Even before FDI was officially formed in 1900, Dr Godon was already organizing annual dental congresses

The first congress that Dr Godon organized in 1889 already focused on the question of dental education. Godon’s early work to organize international dental congresses to disseminate scientific and clinical advances paved the way for excellence in the profession. The congresses in 1889, 1893, 1900 and 1909 set the patterns for discussion and association for the rest of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century.[1] [2]  

While women’s participation in dental congresses was uncommon at the time, one of the main objectives of the congress in 1893 was to establish equality in the professional statutes between male and female dentists. There were several other thought-provoking discussions, including the use of cocaine injections for local anaesthesia. The number of congress participants exceeded 1,000. The third congress in Paris called for uniformity in the teaching of dentistry and—due to the presence of charlatanism within the profession—urged that the public be properly informed about dental care and oral hygiene.

In 1901, after FDI was founded in 1900, the first Annual International Dental Congress was held in London. At the Madrid congress in 1903, FDI entered the world of publishing by setting up an International Press Commission. In 1904, the congress was held in the United States (St. Louis). Despite the long and expensive journey, many European dentists found a way to visit the “New World.” It was also during this 1904 congress that Dr Godon handed over his presidency to Dr W.D. Muller.

Stockholm (1912) introduced the cinematographic lecture as a novel method of teaching. The work of Dr George Cunningham (considered by some to be the father of preventive dentistry) attracted a large audience. Unfortunately, the subsequent years brought trouble and uncertainty. The last congress before the First World War in 1914 still brought delegates to London, even though it became obvious that only a miracle could save Europe from the war. Many arrived at the congress with the news that Germany was at war with Russia; the closing session was a long goodbye for most participants.

In 1922, eight years after the London meeting, the opposition between the Allied Nations and the Central Powers was still felt, even in dentistry.

The future of the Federation and its annual congress was uncertain in the years immediately following the end of World War I. Even so, FDI was one of the first international scientific bodies to re-establish itself after the war. The first official post-war meeting in Madrid (1922) took place with only 20 delegates. King Alfonso XIII addressed the delegates in his opening speech: 

“By your meeting here, you men of science give a lesson to the diplomats. Because, as soon as something can be done for the good of humanity, for you, nations do not exist anymore; nor do the hostilities which broke out in 1914. A much higher conception unites you all.”

The congresses that followed presented a way back to internationalism and resulted in a new resolution on higher standards for dental education. The Philadelphia congress in 1926 was considered “the greatest professional demonstration the world has ever seen,” with 15,000 attendees from 25 countries. However, from the 1930s, the troubled years returned. Despite the tense global atmosphere, dentists from all around the world were able to gather to reinforce better oral health outcomes for children. In Vienna (1936) resolutions were adopted focusing on pregnant women’s oral hygiene and the importance of oral care for infants and young children.

After the Second World War, FDI’s congresses helped to reconstruct the Federation one more time

Dr Alfred Ernest Rowett (President of FDI, 1946-1947) called for a renewal of FDI, but emphasized that the original spirit of FDI should remain unchanged. This quickly became one of the most important subjects of the Boston congress in 1947. The congress returned to Paris in 1950 to mark FDI’s 50th anniversary. In 1957 in Rome, Pope Pius XII addressed the delegates in his speech, highlighting the achievements of dentistry over the previous decades. In 1962 the congress was held once again in Germany for the first time since 1928.  In Cologne, more than 10,000 people arrived from all around the globe and the dental trade show attracted 51,000 visitors[3].

Today’s FDI World Dental Congress, held in a different host country every year, offers a unique opportunity to meet with leaders of the oral health profession from around the globe.

The 100th FDI World Dental Congress was held in Hong Kong, with a traditional welcome ceremony featuring a 100-foot dancing dragon.  In terms of abstract submission, exhibition, and overseas attendance, the 100th congress broke all recent records[4]. Throughout its history, the FDI World Dental Congress has achieved huge milestones and become a true flagship event for the organization. 

FDI looks forward to continuing its legacy of strengthening ties and fostering collaboration with the global oral health community at the next FDI World Dental Congress in Sydney, Australia, from 26-29 September 2021.

References

[1] [3] [4]Zimmer M. The early international dental congresses. Int Dent J. 2000;50(4): 184-193
[2] [5] Hancocks S. The FDI's first ten years, 1900-1910. Int Dent J. 2000;50(4): 175-183.
[6] [7] [8] [9] Ennis J. The Story of the Federation Dentaire Internationale 1900-1962. FDI: London, 1967.
[10] Yeung CA. The 100th FDI World Dental Congress. British Dental Journal. 2013;214(10): 525-526.