Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 14 May, the Central Asian International Dental Exhibition "IDECA 2025" will open in Tashkent.

The country’s main dental exhibition will not only present the latest innovations in the field, but will also host a forum featuring master classes, educational modules, and discussions on pressing issues.

Notably, one of the topics extends far beyond dentistry. The event’s honorary guest, Professor Lakshman Samaranayake from Hong Kong, will give a presentation titled "Current Perspectives on Infection Prevention and Control in Dentistry."

The crux of the matter lies in the growing importance of a question that affects all healthcare professionals: how can doctors protect themselves from infections potentially carried by incoming patients and prevent transmitting these infections to others? It’s no secret that the number and variety of infectious diseases continue to grow. This means that approaches to infection control must be constantly reviewed and updated. For example, in Uzbekistan, chlorine-based disinfectants are commonly used for sanitizing doctors’ hands, surfaces, and instruments—substances that many developed countries have abandoned due to their harmful effects on the human body and corrosive impact on tools and equipment.

Consequently, chlorine-based products are being replaced with more advanced alternatives, many of which are now widely available. However, implementing such changes at the national level requires revisions to regulatory documents to ensure infection prevention aligns with modern global standards.

Professor Samaranayake will share international best practices in modern disinfection protocols, which is particularly important for eliminating cross-contamination risks.

According to Fazliddin Sadikov, head of BIOSTOM and project director of IDECA, discussions on vital topics for the development of domestic dentistry will not be confined to the exhibition alone. Given the strong interest from specialists, further dialogues on key issues are planned, with invitations extended to representatives from Uzbekistan’s healthcare system and other relevant stakeholders.

The exhibition and forum feature a comprehensive educational program. Invitations to participate have been sent to all specialized universities across the country. Students and working professionals will be introduced to the most advanced dental techniques by leading experts.

Among the speakers is another honorary guest, Dr. Simona Schick from Heidelberg University in Germany, alongside specialists from Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Georgia, and other countries.

For instance, under the guidance of Russian expert Stas Belous, attendees will be shown practical applications of new digital technologies in dentistry. Real patients will be involved in procedures that will be projected onto a large screen, allowing every interested viewer to examine the intricacies of each step. Modern clinics are typically equipped with advanced tools like 3D printers and intraoral scanners—but the real challenge is maximizing their potential. IDECA provides a broad platform to study best practices in this area.

"During the master classes, we’ll demonstrate the full cycle of prosthetic dental construction using advanced digital protocols. A working mini-laboratory will be set up at the venue. It will all begin with patient admission, followed by the entire fabrication process carried out on-site. Participants will observe every step and be able to ask detailed questions about the methodology," said Sadikov.

Now in its second year, the exhibition is once again offering all master classes to dental professionals free of charge, despite the participation of numerous renowned experts. Lectures, discussions, and live demonstration-based training will take place in different halls throughout the exhibition’s three-day duration.

Naturally, the exhibition stands of participating companies will draw the closest attention from visitors. These booths will showcase the latest in dental and diagnostic equipment, innovative materials, and cutting-edge instruments from manufacturers based in Germany, Russia, China, the USA, Switzerland, South Korea, and several other countries.