December e-News
A Message to the Global IAPD Family
As we welcome 2026, we extend our warmest wishes to the Global IAPD Family for a year filled with health, success, and meaningful collaboration.
Looking back on 2025, one of the year’s greatest highlights was the opportunity to reconnect in person with so many colleagues and friends at the IAPD Congress in Cape Town. The exchange of ideas, the spirit of collegiality, and the shared commitment to improving children’s oral health worldwide made it a truly memorable occasion.
As we look ahead, we are excited about what the coming year will bring and look forward to continuing our global dialogue and cooperation. We warmly invite you to join us in Barcelona, from 13–15 November 2026, for the 4th Global IAPD Summit. The Summit will focus on Early Orthodontics Anchored in Evidence: An Integration Between Paediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, bringing together experts from both disciplines to explore evidence-based approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clinical best practice.
We look forward to welcoming you there and to another year of advancing paediatric oral health together.
2025 - A Year in Review
2025 was a landmark year for the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD), marked by global engagement, strong educational momentum, and meaningful moments of connection across our international community. Early in the year, IAPD strengthened its international presence through participation and a dedicated symposium at the FDI Regional Congress in Riyadh (16–18 January 2025), highlighting evidence-based paediatric dentistry on a global stage.
Throughout the year, IAPD Webinars continued to grow steadily, reaching an expanding global audience and reinforcing IAPD’s role in accessible, high-quality continuing education. A major milestone followed with the IAPD Fellowship Examination, written online on 22 April 2025, reflecting the continued growth of the Fellowship pathway and the profession’s commitment to standards, learning, and professional development.
A notable educational initiative in 2025 was the launch of the IAPD–Colgate Podcast Series, developed to translate evidence-based science into practical, accessible learning for clinicians worldwide. The series provided an innovative platform for expert discussion and knowledge dissemination, further expanding IAPD’s digital education footprint and global reach.
The year culminated in an unforgettable gathering at the 30th IAPD Congress in Cape Town (22–25 October 2025) — celebrated as the first IAPD Congress held on the African continent, and a powerful moment of international exchange, networking, and scientific dialogue. Just ahead of the Congress, successful outreach activities in Cape Town reflected IAPD’s commitment to community engagement and global oral health impact and embracing the spirit of Ubuntu.
During the Congress, IAPD also launched the Fluoriders brushing project, an engaging educational initiative aimed directly at the children of the world.
Excellence was also recognised during the Congress, with the presentation of IAPD Awards and Bursaries. The IAPD is proud of all Award and Bursary recipients, whose achievements highlight innovation and dedication within the profession.
Together, these milestones reflect a year of growth, innovation, and connection, laying a strong foundation for the exciting initiatives and collaborations ahead.
Your 2026 IAPD Calendar Starts Here
The new year will begin on an exciting note with an IAPD Webinar in January, be sure to keep an eye on our social media channels and the IAPD website for further details.
Registration for the 4th Global IAPD Summit will also open in January; follow the link below to sign up and receive updates directly from the Summit Organising Team.
In addition, applications for the 2027 IAPD Fellowship Examination will open on 6 March 2027.