Boost your CPD with the Main Scientific Program at Congress 2027

“In creating this program, we have worked hard to ensure that it meets the needs of delegates looking for extra insight on current topics of interest, but also that it looks ahead to what is likely to impact and reshape the face of dentistry in the years ahead.  

It’s been exciting to explore the depth and breadth of talent out there to meet these goals and to widen the program so that it meets the needs of the whole dental team.” (Dr Mohammed El-Hakim, Scientific Program Co-Chair) 

The Scientific Program for the 2027 Congress is being developed by a dedicated Scientific Program leadership team, working closely with the wider National Congress Organising Committee. 

Dr Mohammed El-Hakim and Dr Smitha Sukumar are responsible for building, balancing and refining the overall scientific curriculum, with Dr Hugo Sachs providing long standing scientific program experience.

Q & A with Dr Mohammed El-Hakim (Scientific Program Co-Chair)

What was your vision for the ADC 2027 program? 

Our vision for the Australian Dental Congress 2027 was to create a scientific program that offers genuine value to every member of the dental profession, whether they are early in their career or have decades of experience. 

We wanted delegates to leave Congress with new knowledge, ideas and practical insights that they can take back to their clinics and apply to their everyday practice. At the same time, the program should challenge us to think about how dentistry is evolving and how we can continue to advance our practice and provide better care for our patients. 

Ultimately, we wanted to create a Congress where everyone can find something relevant to where they are in their professional journey. 

What does “The Science Behind the Art” mean to you? 

Dentistry is undoubtedly an art, but underpinning that art is a significant layer of science. The two cannot really be separated. 

“The Science Behind the Art” reflects our desire to go beyond simply demonstrating how we perform a procedure. We want delegates to understand why we do it, the biological and scientific principles behind our clinical decisions, and how emerging evidence can influence the way we practise. 

When we understand the “why” behind what we do, we become better equipped to refine the “how”. That combination of scientific understanding, clinical judgement and technical skill is at the heart of modern dentistry."

What are you most excited for delegates to experience at Congress? What topics will have the biggest impact? 

What excites us the most is the breadth of the program. Dentistry is advancing rapidly, and the Congress gives delegates the opportunity to explore many of those developments in one place. 

Whether it is digital dentistry, emerging bioactive materials, new science around repairing and preserving tooth structure, advancing periodontal skills, gaining new perspectives in endodontics, exploring developments in oral medicine and oral radiology, or strengthening our knowledge in oral surgery, implantology and prosthodontics, there will be an enormous range of clinical knowledge to explore. 

We are also particularly proud to have developed a strong program for our oral health therapist clinicians, reflecting the importance of the entire dental team. 

With five to six concurrent scientific sessions across three days, together with an exciting workshop program on the day before Congress begins, delegates will have considerable choice in shaping their own learning experience. 

Knowledge has no boundaries, and that is what I hope delegates experience at ADC 2027. Regardless of discipline or level of experience, there should be something that inspires you, challenges your thinking and gives you something valuable to take back to practice. 

We are incredibly excited and looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Australian Dental Congress 2027, where we will come together to explore The Science Behind the Art."