Looking to the future

Hundreds of delegates from across the country arrived in the Welsh capital in September to attend the BSPD's Annual Scientific Conference. Cardiff was the seemingly obvious choice for 2024, with it being the Chinese Year of the Dragon and Cardiff being informally known as the Dragon City. Titled ‘Right Care at the Right Time’, the event focused on the importance of communication between healthcare professions to ensure the best treatment and outcomes for every child. The conference was held at the recently renovated student union building in the heart of the city centre.

Shannu Bhatia, BSPD president elect, kicked off the conference by welcoming delegates to the event and introducing the aptly chosen 2024 mascot, Dewi the Dragon. She then introduced the first keynote session speakers Margherita Fontana and Professor Nicola Innes. Margherita is a professor of dentistry in the department of cariology, restorative sciences and endodontics at University of Michigan and director of the Global Initiatives Programme in oral and craniofacial health at the School of Dentistry. Nicola is a professor of Paediatric Dentistry, honorary consultant and head of Cardiff Dental School. Their talk was titled ‘Right Care for Caries; Minimally Invasive Dentistry, Here and There’.