As tradition calls and despite all the difficulties this year brought, the 24th Congress of the Unified Romanian Dental Associations (UNAS) took place in October (7-9), for the first time as an on-line event.
The main topic of the congress, “Trends of dental practice within the context of new materials and technologies”, gave highly appreciated national and international lecturers the opportunity to share with the participants the newest ways of managing our patients’ diverse pathologies. Lecturers from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, Iași, Târgu Mureș, as well as from the Republic of Moldova, Czech Republic, Israel, Holland, Serbia and the US, honoured the organizers’ invitation and gave very interesting presentations on dental diagnosis, new materials and modern technologies. National Conferences of the Romanian National Associations of Paediatric Dentistry and Periodontology also traditionally came along.
Almost all domains of our profession were present during the three days of congress, through conferences and oral presentations. Generally, all sections of the congress combined fundamental research with epidemiological studies directly connected to clinical reality and with case presentations. The hottest topic of this stressful year was not avoided: Professor Radu Septimiu Câmpian presented his conference “Dentistry during COVID-19 pandemic”.
Presentations were given either live or pre-recorded. Technical support was provided by a small group of skilled and enthusiastic doctors. Dr. Cătălin Balog-Bellu, a constant presence at the technical desk, alongside with drs. Liviu Daniel Căminescu and Alin Constantin, both of which carried out many other organizing tasks, formed a powerful team that made the transmission possible under best conditions.
Thanks to the technical team as well as to all the chairpersons of the various sections of the virtual meeting (Prof. Dana Cristina Bodnar, dr. Liviu Daniel Căminescu, Prof. Andreea Cristiana Didilescu, Prof. Anca Silvia Dumitriu, Prof. Rodica Luca, dr. Ioanina Părlătescu, dr. Stana Păunică, dr. Ruxandra Sfeatcu), the congress was carried out seamlessly, in a friendly atmosphere.
Organizing this year’s on-line edition of the UNAS Congress was obviously not an easy first. Nevertheless, the event was a successful one, with more attendants than a usual on-site edition, proving that technology can provide us with helpful alternatives. However, both lecturers and attendants agreed that direct interaction was deeply missed.
Looking forward to returning to direct communication before long, let us already start planning for next year’s UNAS Congress!
