Skip to content

The Irish Dentistry Show: an experience like no other

by Rowan Thomas

The Irish Dentistry Show: an experience like no other

The Irish Dentistry Show is back in Dublin this September. We take a look at some of the fascinating talks taking place.

The Irish Dentistry Show is set to return to Dublin with a bang on 7 September, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. 

The event will feature an expanded line-up of speakers and exhibitors, offering a fascinating day for the whole dental team. And it’s all for free!

The Irish Dentistry Show will give you the chance to see the latest innovations in dentistry and some of the best speakers in the business. You will also get a valuable opportunity to network with your peers. 

The show will also be held on the same day as the prestigious Irish Dentistry Awards (see page 11), so why not enjoy a day of learning before a night of celebrations?

Be sure to register at irishdentistry.ie/shows/irish-dentistry-show to get your name on the list! 

Across three lecture theatres there will be more than 15 educational sessions, presented by leading clinicians, experts and innovators in dentistry. Here’s a preview of some of the speakers and what they have in store for you.

Mark Topley

WTF happened to recruitment (and what to do about it)

‘Stride headfirst into the whirlwind that has turned recruitment and retention upside down,’ says Mark. 

‘Finding and keeping top talent has become tougher than ever, and it’s time to unpack why. There have been seismic shifts in the recruitment landscape, but it’s not all doom and gloom. You’ll discover that much of this chaos is within your control. 

‘Learn how to pivot your strategies, overhaul outdated processes and catch up with the new normal. It’s high time you took charge of your recruitment game. Surprises await – are you ready to regain the upper hand in hiring?’

Jackie Ffrench 

Stay hidden or bring unique value by futureproofing your dental team with social enterprises and government supports 

‘This presentation delves into the strategic importance of futureproofing your dental team to stand out in the Irish dental market, especially in the digital economy,’ says Jackie.

‘We will explore how dentistry can leverage support from various social enterprises and government organisations to enhance skills, innovation and build resilience within their teams. Attendees will learn about the various training programmes and support mechanisms available online or locally, designed to foster continuous professional development and ensure long-term success for all dental teams at local level. 

‘The presentation will highlight real-world examples of how embracing these opportunities can transform individuals, making them more adaptable and competitive. By investing in your team’s growth, you not only retain top talent but also ensure exceptional patient care and operational excellence for your dental practice or dental laboratory. This session aims to equip dental SMEs with the knowledge and tools to thrive and grow in a digital economy.’

Mary Catherine O’Dolan 

Comprehensive aesthetic treatment planning and communication to the patient

‘This presentation will delve into assessment of the anterior zone using the pink, white and black aesthetic concepts,’ says Mary. 

‘I will speak about different clinical conditions that may be observed in each of the categories and possible treatment pathways. I will demonstrate the conversation I have with my patients regarding their own smile, and the treatment options available to them to achieve their goals.’

Lucy Stock

A curious tale of top to toe dentistry: can dental treatment really stop oromandibular spasms?

‘Hear how the exciting concept of complete dentistry (oral health, TMJ condition, occlusion, nutrition, airway, sleep, immune system regulation, neurological balance, muscular equilibrium and skeletal harmony), was utilised in a patient’s treatment to produce remarkable results,’ says Lucy. ‘This captivating patient’s journey to recovery wonderfully highlights how dentistry has the potential to influence much more than just oral health.’  

Lorenzo Pelizzari

Predictable and consistent results – common mistakes and solutions to overcome them successfully

Lorenzo says: ‘How can I achieve a good predictable outcome when working with zirconia? What do I have to pay attention to in order to avoid common errors in the dental workflow? 

‘The lecture draws attention to technical aspects and factors that influence the final result of a zirconia restoration. By showing a real, complex case, the lecturer will illustrate the challenges arisen during each workflow step, from patient diagnostic to characterisation, providing keys to overcome them successfully. 

‘Special attention will be given to impression-taking, occlusion registration, passivity check and correct material selection.

‘The process of creating high-end, predictable zirconia solutions also involves a well-established communication between dental technicians, clinicians and surgeons. For this reason, the lecture will also focus on the latest digital diagnostic devices – a key aspect for improving communication within the treatment team.’

Gemma Forsythe

Domestic abuse – is it any of our business in dentistry?

‘In the UK, around one in four women and one in seven men experience domestic abuse during their life, including psychological, emotional, physical, sexual or financial abuse, and/or coercion, control or stalking,’ says Gemma.

‘Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse. Dental staff are in a unique position to recognise and respond to signs of domestic abuse. My lecture will take a look at recognising signs and providing compassionate support. I hope that after listening to my lecture, dental professionals will feel empowered to be able to signpost victims to organisations that can help them.’

Alan Clarke 

Dentistry got bouji – from AI to Gen Z: how you can be part of the revolution

‘We live in a global world, yet dentistry sits behind the times, last to adapt and innovate, or does it?’ asks Alan. 

‘Lets deep dive on what is happening around the world and which trends you need to jump on to take your practice to a global level. This is the cool lecture – the one that inspires you, to be like ‘flip, my industry is actually awesome!!’ Where is dentistry going and how can you use technology to create community, elevate patient care, practice and most importantly your own dentistry game?

Neil Carmichael  

Shaping and modernising dentistry to tackle the looming economic and social challenges across Europe

‘Developing patterns of economic growth and social behaviour will be analysed and matched to the expectations and trends within dentistry,’ says Neil. 

‘New technologies, patient priorities, emerging models of dentistry and public policy will all be assessed before outlining the likely future direction of travel for dentistry.’

Paul Reaney

Changing lives with dental sleep medicine

Paul says his lecture will explain ‘the relevance of dental sleep medicine to the dental profession and our patients’ and demonstrate ‘the patient experience for successful outcomes’. He will also explore ‘progression of digital appliance design from CAD CAM to using artificial intelligence in a digital workflow.’

Ryan Cowden

Become the clinician you deserve to be!

‘This talk will be discussing how postgraduate education has been important in my career development, how this can lead to a more satisfying career and how to progress your career with the Kana Dental Academy,’ says Ryan. 

Janet Williams Oshun

The untold impact of culture on oral health

‘This presentation explores how oral health is influenced by ethnic and cultural oral practices,’ says Janet. ‘The key subjects covered are the use of miswak, oil-pulling therapy and betel nut chewing.’

Siobhan Kelleher

Living well: harnessing the power of lifestyle medicine

‘In this presentation, we will explore the impact of lifestyle choices on our overall health and wellbeing,’ says Siobhan. ‘From diet and exercise to stress management and sleep habits, we will delve into the key pillars of lifestyle medicine and how adopting a holistic approach can lead to a healthier and happier life.’

Rachael Lilley

The book builder

In this presentation Rachael will outline a replicable method to keep your dental hygiene book busy whether you’re just starting out, have been at a practice for years or move around like a little dental hygiene nomad.  Rachael will discuss thresholds and targets to take the guesswork out of recalls, discuss regular patient attendance related to medical conditions, the benefits of regular patient attendance and creating a five-star patient experience.

Sarie Liebenberg

Baby I want your mojo

‘This presentation will deal with your personal power and influence over others,’ says Sarie. ‘We sometimes lose the ability to stand out and be different. We lose our zest for life. What is responsible for this loss of motivation? And, more importantly, how do we get it back? 

‘A step-to-step guide to make some changes and stay motivated to be the best version of yourself. And in doing so, be the change the world wants to see and influence others to do the same.’

Lisa Grogan

Blueprint for dental practice success

Discover the secrets of the elite dental practices with Lisa Grogan’s 15 years of expertise, with a focus on effective clinic management, driving patient and team loyalty and practice profitability. 


The Irish Dentistry Show is taking place on 7 September 2024 at RDS Dublin. Register now at irishdentistry.ie/shows/irish-dentistry-show.