Dr. Deborah Kreher followed with a specialist speech on root caries. Bacteria attacking exposed roots cause root caries, with severe pain as a possible consequence and tooth loss in the worst case. Bad oral hygiene, dry mouth and high sugar intake increase the risk specifically in older patients. The focus was on the relevance of the topic for practice and the challenges involved in diagnostics and therapy.

Prof. Dirk Ziebolz addressed the topic of periimplantitis in the second lecture. This is the inflammatory process affecting tissue around a dental implant, often caused by insufficient oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes and lack of aftercare. Prof. Ziebolz underlined the need for a new understanding of the complaint in dental practice. He deduced implications for diagnostics, therapy and prevention from references to biology and presented the stepwise prevention approach pursued by the MHB department of restorative dentistry and periodontology.

In conclusion, Prof. Schmalz spoke about mucosal changes in connection with systemic diseases and gave suggestions for dental practice on how to identify various underlying diseases based on abnormalities of teeth and gums.

Subsequent lively discussions over coffee and cake offered ample opportunity for exchange between participants and with speakers. Prof. Schmalz expressed great satisfaction with the response of dentists from the region. He stressed the need for a network with local dentists with a view to student education and was looking forward to the collaboration with his fellow professionals.

The plan is to establish the meeting as a recurrent event, and the next meeting is scheduled for April. Exchange with resident dentists is to take place on a permanent basis, complemented by a platform for teaching surgeries cooperating with the MHB.