EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
| INTERVIEWER Dr. Rockson Samuel Community Leader, DentalReach | INTERVIEWEE Mr. Enzo Bondioni Executive Director, FDI World Dental Federation |
FDI World Dental Congress | Prague | 6 September 2026
DentalReach spoke with Enzo Bondioni during the FDI World Dental Congress in Prague about how FDI is expanding professional education, improving access to global learning and supporting dentists during the earliest years of their careers. The discussion also looked ahead to the next World Dental Congress in Mumbai.
The Interview
Dr. Rockson Samuel
Hello and welcome to DentalReach. I am Dr. Rockson Samuel, joining you from the FDI World Dental Congress in Prague. Today, I am pleased to welcome Mr. Enzo Bondioni, Executive Director of FDI World Dental Federation. Mr. Bondioni, thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
Mr. Enzo Bondioni
Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to be here.
Continuing Education in a Rapidly Evolving Profession
Dr. Rockson Samuel
How is FDI helping dental professionals around the world keep their knowledge and clinical skills up to date through continuing education and professional development?
Mr. Enzo Bondioni
Continuing education and continuing professional development are core parts of FDI activities. Dentistry is evolving rapidly. We are seeing new technologies, new treatment approaches and a growing emphasis on integrating oral health into general health. Dental professionals must therefore continue developing their knowledge and clinical skills throughout their careers.
FDI provides a broad portfolio of continuing education opportunities. The largest of these is the FDI World Dental Congress. It is a truly global event. A dentist from India may speak during a scientific session, while a dentist from Switzerland or another country can learn from that presentation. The Congress brings professionals from different parts of the world together to exchange knowledge and experience.
It also gives young dentists and dental students opportunities to learn, meet established professionals and begin building their careers within the international dental community. Supporting the next generation of the profession is very dear to our hearts, which is why we develop dedicated programmes with and for young dentists and dental students, including initiatives such as the Young Dentists Forum, which has an Emerging Speaker Contest, as well as special registration fees for FDI Congresses to help make participation accessible.
Taking FDI Education to Different Regions
Mr. Enzo Bondioni
Another important part of our continuing education strategy is the FDI Regional Congress. A regional congress can be considered a smaller version of the World Dental Congress, bringing FDI educational opportunities closer to dental professionals within a particular geographical region.
Last year, for example, we organised successful regional congresses in Saudi Arabia and Costa Rica. We will also hold a regional congress in Kenya, providing dentists from across Africa with an opportunity to participate in an international educational programme closer to home. Another regional congress is planned for Cartagena, Colombia, for dental professionals in Latin America.
Anyone interested in participating can visit the FDI website to learn more about upcoming congresses and educational programmes.
Free Digital Education Through the FDI Oral Health Campus
Mr. Enzo Bondioni
Digital education is another essential part of our approach. FDI has developed the FDI Oral Health Campus, a digital learning platform that provides live and on-demand continuing education webinars. Registration is required, but access to the platform and its educational content is free.
Registered users receive notifications about upcoming webinars. They can participate in the live session or return to the platform later to watch the programme on demand. This makes continuing education more accessible to professionals who may not be able to travel to an international congress or attend a webinar at its scheduled time.
Expert Teaching and Hands On Clinical Training
Mr. Enzo Bondioni
We also offer the Master Continuing Education Programme, which currently focuses on adhesive and aesthetic dentistry. The programme combines expert-led teaching with hands-on clinical training. We work with our national member associations, which provide the local facilities, while FDI brings in the experts and supports the educational programme.
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