DUBAI, 9th February, 2017 (WAM) -- Business deals worth US$3.03 billion were sealed during the 21st edition of the UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition, AEEDC Dubai 2017, recording a 10 percent rise compared to the previous year.

The event, held from 7th to 9th February at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracted over 48,000 visitors and participants from 130 countries and saw a vast range of business, scientific and educational activities. It also featured 16 national pavilions, primarily from Brazil, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US.

"We are very happy with the great improvement that AEEDC Dubai is witnessing yearly, as the value of business deals this year has increased by 10 percent compared to last year," Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of AEEDC Dubai Conference and Exhibition and the Global Scientific Dental Alliance, said while announcing the outcome of this years edition.

AEEDC Dubai receives great attention and support from the UAE organisations and government entities, as well as from all over the world, he added.

"I commend and reaffirm what H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Health Authority announced during the inauguration of AEEDC. H.H. pointed out that the healthcare system is an important pillar of measuring development and rise of nations. From our side, we work hard to focus on this vital and important sector to contribute to its development," Al Madani said.

The last day of AEEDC Dubai also saw the GCC Preventive Dentistry Press Conference, which was presided over by 11 heads of dental societies and representatives from the GCC health ministries who gathered to discuss prevention programmes and updates on dental diseases across all GCC countries. The conference aimed to increase awareness in oral diseases in the region and highlighted the epidemic of dental caries.

The meeting also discussed the results of the first GCC oral health survey. The survey was conducted between 2014 and 2016, and examined over 6,000 children in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. It is estimated that over 85 percent of children in the GCC region suffer from dental caries. The disease is particularly severe among children and as it is irreversible, people suffer from the disease throughout their lives. As preventive dentistry helps reduce the condition, the conference aimed to promote preventive dentistry among dental practitioners in the region.

On another note, dentists and professionals participating in AEEDC Dubai conference warned against visiting cosmetic dentistry clinics operated by unqualified staff and technicians.

The conference also introduced, for the first time in the Middle East, new and innovative endodontic files to clean the tooth pulp in less time. The technology contributes to reducing the duration of dental operations. The conference also called for early screening of teeth and gums that will help in early detection of any cancerous tumour.

At the end of the event, a prize distribution ceremony was held. The AEEDC Young Researcher Award went to Dr. Hani Mawardi; Dr. Michael Dieter won the AEEDC Best Speaker Award. The AEEDC Best Clinical Photo Award was claimed by Anneli Aleksius; the AEEDC Excellence in Clinical Product Award was won by Dentsply Sirona X-SMART TM; the Best AEEDC Dubai Booth Design Award went to KavoKerr; the Best AEEDC Dubai Booth Activities Award went to P&G - Oral B, and the AEEDC Dubai Best Booth Technology Award was won by COLGATE.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.