From October 2 to 4, Padua will host the International Congress of the Italian Academy of Osseointegration (IAO) for the first time, under the chairmanship of Prof. Eriberto Bressan. This is a return “home” for the professor of Implantology and Periodontology at the Dentistry Clinic of the University of Padua, who is now at the helm of the IAO for the two-year period 2025-2026.
The congress will be an opportunity for high-profile discussions with Italian and international guests, multidisciplinary sessions, practical workshops, and a space dedicated to young people, hygienists, and the new generation of clinicians.
The focus of the meeting—with 1,200 delegates expected to attend—will not only be on implantology, but also on a modern approach to oral health, in which periodontal, prosthetic, and digital components are integrated synergistically. Among the most impactful topics is the lecture on the oral microbiome, a subject that is central to understanding how oral health is linked to the well-being of the entire body.
The mouth is home to over 700 bacterial species: a complex ecosystem which, if altered, can contribute to the development of systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even certain cancers.
Recent studies show that bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis or Fusobacterium nucleatum can colonize tissues distant from the oral cavity, fueling chronic inflammatory processes. Maintaining the balance of the oral microbiome is therefore not only dental prevention, but a real investment in the patient’s overall health.
In this constantly evolving scenario, scientific updating is no longer an option, but a responsibility.
Prof. Bressan also emphasizes this: “Today, it is no longer enough to know how to do something. It is essential to understand what lies behind every clinical decision, to keep up to date and to share knowledge. This is the spirit of the IAO: to grow together, with scientific rigor and passion, offering young colleagues solid, accessible, and stimulating points of reference.”
Padova Congress will also host this important event in the next two years (2027-2028) under the leadership of President-Elect Dr. Luca De Stavola.
