RATED R: REVIVE, RESET, REIGNITE PEDIATRIC ORAL CARE

On February 5 to 6, this year, the Philippine Pediatric Dental Society, Inc (PPDSI) held its 30^th Annual Convention in hybrid platform. This is the first face to face activity since the whole country was placed on lockdown on that unfortunate day, March 15, 2020 due to the Covid -19 global pandemic. The theme was Rated R: Revive, Reset, Reignite Pediatric Oral Care. This theme intended to address the numerous challenges our membership and our colleagues faced at a time when patients were not able to receive regular dental care for the past 2 years and the dental health professional on one hand experienced a decline in clinic appointments which also affected the profession on a different scope.

The first day of the convention included the zoom lecture of the IAPD President Dr Jorge Luis Castillo Cevallos, DDS, MSD, PhD who lectured on “How to Face the New Normality in Pediatric Dentistry”. He explained the rationale and indications for the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride by sharing the different journals and clinical trials that he personally was part of.

The hybrid platform was utilized during the second day. The newly inducted PPDSI President, Dr Gay A. Raralio introduced the Keynote speaker Carmencita Padilla, MD, MAHPS , Chancellor of the University of the Philippines (Manila). Chancellor Padilla gave a comprehensive discussion that encouraged the audience especially the Society to initiate advocacies to improve the oral health of Filipinos and to take a collaborative direction with public and private stakeholders especially the Department of Health.

The participants were very fortunate to have learned from the zoom lectures of highly esteemed international speakers namely, Justin Jae Cheoun Lee, DDS, PhD gave a profound presentation on “Reading Children’s Faces”.

Richard Chamberlain, DDS a US based pediatric dentist elaborated on the topic “Revisiting the Pulp/ Pulp Treatment Updates.

Non-dental topics were also part of the program, Ms Jacqueline Van Den Ende, CEO of Carbon Equity in Netherlands gave a passionate lecture on “Circularity of Materials”. PPDSI is trying to inject awareness on environmental issues to local dentists in the hope to spread the urgent call to save our planet Earth.

Mr. Frederick Fabella , a motivational speaker helped the audience realize and learn how it is to be happy through his talk on “ Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness”. The audience were impacted with positive and happy thoughts, something that is most significant after surviving the unfamiliar difficulties during the pandemic.

Medical doctors were also invited to engage with the dental professionals. Dr Vanessa Cainghug a respected Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, gave an enlightening lecture on “Behavior Management” which pediatric dentists can apply in their practice.

Dr Royce Mangubat, a pediatrician gave a timely review on “First Line Management of Pediatric Pain and Infection.

The annual convention was well attended with 96 on site attendees and 196 online participants which comprised of dentists, dental students and allied health professionals. It was held at the Bayanihan Center, Unilab compound in Pasig City.