Get ready for the biggest dental event of 2026!
The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA), New Zealand Oral Health Association (NZOHA), and New Zealand Institute of Dental Technologists (NZIDT) are joining forces to deliver the New Zealand Dental Congress 2026.
Congress will kick off with an opening session bringing everyone together, followed by each association presenting its own tailored scientific programme, with select open sessions to foster collaboration. The shared industry expo will be a buzzing hub of activity, connection and energy.
Expect inspiring sessions, hands-on learning, networking opportunities, and a vibrant social programme that keeps wellbeing front of mind.
The event will take place from 27 – 29 August 2026 at the brand-new New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland. Registration are now open so don’t miss your chance to be part of the action!
Keep an eye on the conference website as we’ll be releasing more information shortly.
Mark the dates in your calendar – this is an event you won’t want to miss!
Workshop options Thursday
Two full day workshops to choose between. These workshops are optional but invaluable.
Topic title – Trios for prosthetics – Trios and 3Shape
Details to be confirmed. Thank you to Ivoclar and 3Shape.
It’s a full day with lecture on the prosthetic workflows for full dentures, partial dentures immediate dentures, single arch dentures, splints , hybrid scanning , using the trios along with practical sessions
You will walk away knowing how to set up the trios scanner for the various workflows , and know how to scan for these via the practical sessions.
Mr John Batchelor SEMCD, BPS, Digital 3Shape
Mr Tristan Pattinson Digital 3Shape
Topic Title: Introduction to Intraoral Scanning: A Practical Guide for Beginners – Medit Thank you to Medit and Neo Dental.
Session: Are you looking to transition from traditional impressions to a streamlined digital workflow? This hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop is designed specifically for practitioners who want to introduce intraoral scanning into their daily practice smoothly and confidently. We will cover the fundamentals of digital dentistry, demonstrating the ease of use and intuitive nature of the Medit i900c scanner. Attendees will learn step-by-step scanning protocols, how to utilise subscription-free software for patient consultations, and how to seamlessly communicate with laboratories. The afternoon will feature a practical hands-on session, giving you the confidence to start scanning your patients the very next day.
Bio Mr John Jk Kim
Mr John Jk Kim is the Director of Neo Dental, the authorised distributor of Medit in New Zealand. With a passion for advancing dental technology, John specialises in guiding clinics through the seamless transition from conventional impressions to fully digital workflows using 3S technology (Speed, Smart, Seamless).
Congress presenters bios and topics
Professor Frauke Müller, Prof em. Dr. med. dent. Dr. hc. FDS RCSEd (ad hom)
University of Geneva, Switzerland
Division of Gerodontology and Removable Prosthodontics
Prosthodontic Treatment Concepts for Old and Very Old Patients
Although tooth loss is still a reality for elderly and very elderly patients, it is increasingly occurring at an age when physiological signs of ageing, frailty and morbidity must be taken into account in prosthetic care. Age-appropriate dentures must also be tailored to the patient’s general state of health and socio-economic context; and the patient’s motivation, the wishes of their family and their ability to endure dental interventions must also be taken into account. Declining vision, sense of smell and sense of touch, as well as increasingly reduced manual dexterity in old age, require dentures to be designed to be simple, stable and hygienic. Implants are an option but require close monitoring and “retrograding” along with advanced loss of autonomy. Furthermore, dentures should be easy for nursing staff to handle. As a general rule, extensive changes to dentures or the fabrication of new ones should be avoided in multimorbid patients, as reduced neuroplasticity in old age means that reduced adaptability must be expected. The lecture discusses age-related changes and how they should be taken into account in prosthetic treatment planning and therapy, as well as strategies to anticipate future tooth loss and care dependency.
Bio -Professor Frauke Müller, Prof em. Dr. med. dent. Dr. hc. FDS RCSEd (ad hom)
University of Geneva, Switzerland
Division of Gerodontology and Removable Prosthodontics
Frauke Müller is professor emeritus for gerodontology and removable prosthodontics at the University Clinics of Dental Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Frauke Müller has been President of various learned societies. She co-edited the ITI Treatment Guide no 9 on “Implant therapy in the Geriatric Patient” and the textbook “Oral Healthcare and The Frail Elder”. For many years, she was Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation and Gerodontology. Frauke Müller is an honorary member of the European College of Gerodontology, the BSSPD and the International Team of Implantology (ITI). Frauke Müller was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award twice, in 2013 in Geriatric Oral Research and in 2023 in Research in Prosthodontics and Implants. In 2019 she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Thessaloniki. In 2024 she received an honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and an honorary Professorship of the University of Chulalongkorn in Bangkok. She is member of the Swiss Academy for Medical Sciences. Her research activity is mainly related to gerodontology, oral function as well as complete and implant prosthodontics.
Wellness session Kristy von Minden Sponsored by MAS
Details to follow
Dr Nitish Surathu and Dr Neeraj Surathu – Digital workflows in full and partial dentures, implant overdentures and when to merge analogue and digital workflows together to get the best results.
Bio – Dr Nitish Surathu Periodontist and Implantologist
Dr Nitish Surathu completed his BDS in 1991 and an MDS in Periodontics in 1994. He is, by examination, an accredited Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and is also a Fellow and Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. In 2009, he completed the New Zealand Dental Registration Examination process and is now a registered General Dental Practioner who limits himself to general dental practice in Gisborne, New Zealand. Nitish has lectured around the world on periodontics and dental implants. In New Zealand, Nitish has been an invited speaker at national conferences of the New Zealand Dental association, the New Zealand Academy of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry, the New Zealand Institute of Minimally Invasive Dentistry, the New Zealand Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association and the New Zealand Hygienists Association. He has also lectured at most branches of the New Zealand Dental Association around the country as well.
Fuller details to follow…
Ms Akruti Tataria – AI That Connects Clinic and Lab:
Technical Capabilities using AI within the 3Shape Ecosystem
AI is transforming digital dentistry by streamlining how clinics and labs scan, communicate, design and deliver restorations. Within the 3Shape ecosystem, AI improves accuracy, reduces manual steps and creates a smoother, more integrated workflow that ultimately benefits patients.
This lecture is essential for Clinical Dental Technicians and Dental Technicians who want to stay at the forefront of digital workflows. AI within the 3Shape ecosystem is rapidly reshaping how cases are scanned, communicated, designed, and validated – giving labs unprecedented accuracy, efficiency and control.
Lecture Content –
1. AI in the Clinic and Lab
• Real-time scan optimization: auto-cleaning, segmentation, trimming, and bite alignment
• DX+ diagnostics aid for gingival recession, plaque retention, tooth wear, surface and interproximal caries detection
• Lab-side automation: AI-proposed crown anatomy, margin detection and preparation analysis
• Intelligent validation: detecting missing data, undercuts, and scan inconsistencies
2. AI as the Clinic – Lab Connector
• Smarter case setup through automated order parameters and predictive restoration suggestions
• Clearer communication with AI-enhanced annotations and structured case data
• Cloud-based syncing of scans, designs, approvals, and revisions
• Fewer remakes and faster turnaround through AI-validated impressions and design checks
• ScanAssist in TRIOS 5 and TRIOS 6 enabling seamless edentulous scanning
3. Real-World Impact and Future Potential
• Faster, more predictable workflows for single-unit and complex cases
• Improved patient communication via AI simulations and visual previews
• Advancements toward predictive and consistent prosthetic designs, enhanced implant planning and deeper automation
• Increasing personalization based on clinician and technician preferences
By understanding these tools now, clinicians and technicians can elevate their craftsmanship, reduce remakes and deliver consistently higher-quality results. For anyone working in a dental lab, this is a must-see session that highlights where the industry is heading and how to best embrace it.
Bio – Ms Akruti Tataria
Akruti Tataria is a Lab Solutions Specialist for 3Shape ANZ with a strong clinical and technical knowledge base in digital dentistry. She is a registered Clinical Dental Technician in both Australia and New Zealand.
With extensive experience supporting clinics, dental laboratories and dental health organizations, Akruti specializes in guiding teams through the adoption of digital workflows, 3Shape Clinic and Lab Solutions and the use if AI in dentistry. Her expertise spans clinical‑lab communication, workflow optimization and digital transformation projects across Australia and New Zealand.
Alongside her industry role, Akruti is a Digital Dentistry Educator for the Institute of Digital Dentistry (iDD), where she contributes to training programs that equip clinicians and technicians with practical, future‑focused digital skills. She is also a committed advocate for Women in Dentistry, actively promoting representation, mentorship, and pathways for Women entering digital and technical roles within the profession.
From ‘No Thanks’ to ‘Yes’: Understanding Denture Patients to Improve Case Acceptance
Presented by Associate Professor John Aarts
This presentation will help you know if there are strategies you could possibly implement to increase patient acceptance, confidence in you, and transform “no thanks” into “yes.” You will also be able to confirm that you are doing everything you possibly can, and that will give you peace of mind that you really are delivering the best for your practice and patients.
The presentation will explore why patients hesitate at the very moment we expect them to commit, or even why they did not come to you for dentures 10 years ago. Even when the need is clear, and their current dentures are well past their due date, countless patients still hold back. Often, the reasons for delaying go beyond the denture itself or the cost.
Associate Professor John Aarts will explore those factors that drive reluctance or hesitation. He will delve into the emotional influences that shape patient decision-making. Investigate roadblocks that influence the patient long before the first appointment is made.
For practitioners seeking to boost case acceptance, this talk provides a fresh lens for understanding patient priorities and a roadmap for addressing them. If you want to move beyond “presenting a cost-driven choice” and towards supporting patients in accepting they need a new denture, this information will help you do that.
Bio – Associate Professor John Aarts
Associate Professor John Aarts is a leading academic and advocate for dental technology education, currently serving as Convenor of the Bachelor of Dental Technology and the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology at the University of Otago. With more than thirty years of teaching, research, and professional service, he has played a central role in shaping New Zealand’s educational and regulatory landscape in dental technology.
John’s teaching is primarily focused on postgraduate clinical dental technology, where he is known for integrating evidence-based practice with clinical skill development. His career began in industry as a practising dental technician, followed by a transition into education at the Central Institute of Technology in Wellington, where he taught crown and bridge technology. During this time, he completed qualifications in Education and Health Sciences, strengthening his foundation in academic practice. In 2001, John joined the University of Otago, where he shifted his focus to complete dentures and clinical dental technology, becoming a key figure in the evolution of the programme. His scholarly output includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications spanning clinical innovation, educational methodology, and dental materials science.
Beyond academia, John has made significant contributions to the profession. He recently completed a nine-year term with the Dental Council of New Zealand and has served a total of nine years on the NZIDT Executive at various points in his career. He continues to support professional standards nationally through his work as an Expert Witness for Crown Law and as a professional advisor to the Dental Council. John brings a rare combination of academic expertise, regulatory insight, and practical understanding of the dental technology profession.
Dr Andrew Cautley –
Implants or a denture? Current thinking in the partially dentate and the full denture patient.
kindly sponsored by Ivoclar
Summary:
When a partially dentate patient is seeking tooth replacement, what do we know about the merits of a partial denture solution or a fixed implant solution? Which is better? Likewise, in the patient who is edentulous in the mandible, how does a denture compare with an implant-retained prosthesis?Current literature will be reviewed alongside clinical cases, helping us to make the treatment of our patient’s evidence based.
Bio:
Dr Andrew Cautley is a Prosthodontist who practices in Nelson and Wellington. He has been in specialist practice for 32 years, and has been involved extensively in education for dentists, largely in the field of implant prosthodontics. Currently has practice is almost all implant related, and for the last eleven years he has been providing “All-on-4“ treatments in partnership with an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, treating over 300 cases in that time.
Mr Michael Rutledge – TMJ
fuller details to follow…
Mr Michael Williams – Maxillofacial prosthetics, an evolving scope. Kindly supported by Dentech
Maxillofacial prosthetics is a very specialized and still, restricted scope of practice that very few DT’s and CDTs are involved with in NZ.
This presentation gives an overview of what’s involved with the day to day workload and also an understanding of what is required in terms of the science and knowledge that underpins it and will demonstrate where we are applying digital technologies in our daily workflow.
The Maxillofacial Dept at Waikato Hospital is a leader in this for NZ and we have very close working relationships with our surgical colleagues in the Maxillofacial, Plastic, ENT and Ophthalmic specialties as well as our dental colleagues and other allied health groups.
The provision of removable dental appliances through the dept will also be discussed as only head and neck cancer patients and cleft patients can access this service through the dept, and many of our patients are not straight forwards.
As a certain Mr Craig Metcalfe famously once said, us (CDT’s ) have become deFacto Prosthodotists for the provision of removable prosthetics, and at Waikato, this is definitely the case.
Mike is one of a team of 3 highly talented individuals (Mr Mustafa Al-Saffar and Miss Bessie Kay) who are fortunate to work in this scope of practice at Waikato hospital.
Bio:
Mr Mike Williams, Senior Maxillofacial Technician, Dept of Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton
Qualifications:
Regd CDT , Adv Cert CDT, (with Distinction), CIT, NZ, (2000)
DT : B/TEC ND Science/ Dental Technology (1986), Richmond College of FE, Sheffield, UK.
Maxillofacial Qualification: B/TEC HNC, Science/Dental Technology (with Distinction) (1996), Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester UK.
Awards: John Quayle Trophy for top student on 1 year HNC Programme.
Assoc Prof Dr Joanne Choi – From Print to Patient: Getting 3D-Printing Post-Processing and Safety Right
3D-printing has moved rapidly from a “nice to have” to an everyday tool in New Zealand dental laboratories and clinics. The post-processing steps (post-washing and curing) after printing are just as critical as the printer itself. Inadequate post-processing can compromise the aesthetics, accuracy, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of 3D-printed dental devices. There is also uncertainty around how solvents and 3D-printing waste should be handled and disposed of appropriately in everyday practice.
In this talk, Associate Professor Joanne Choi (University of Otago) will share findings from a survey of New Zealand and Australian dental practitioners on 3D printing and post-processing. The session will translate manufacturers’ instructions, research findings, standards and regulatory requirements into practical guidance to help ensure 3D-printed dental devices are not only accurate, but also safe, compliant and truly patient-ready.
Bio – Associate Professor Joanne Choi, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago
BDentTech (Hons), PGClinicalDentTech, PhD (Otago)
Associate Professor Joanne Choi is Deputy Convenor of the Bachelor of Dental Technology programme and Programme Lead for the Clinical and Translational Research Programme at the Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago. She is a key researcher in dental technology, dental materials and clinical translational research in New Zealand and internationally, having published over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles. Joanne and her research team investigate a wide range of restorative dental materials, including CAD/CAM and 3D-printed materials. She is passionate about generating innovative, clinically relevant evidence and developing practical solutions that can be translated into everyday dental practice.
The Panel – Panel discussion with all three Associations
details to follow…
Some accommodation deals
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