Polski
The Future of Dentistry: A Congress, Artificial Intelligence, and a Lesson in Humility from TikTok
September in the dental industry is shaping up to be intense: alongside the Warsaw Dental Medica Show, a major scientific congress is taking place, millions of dollars are flowing into AI-powered cavity detection in the US, and Polish dentists are setting European records for their numbers. On top of that, a voice of reason from the ADA and a warning about viral TikTok "hacks" – here's our weekly roundup.
01 · Congresses & Education
9th PTS Dental Congress: Science Meets Practice Right Next to the Trade Show
On September 17–19, 2026, at Ptak Warsaw Expo, running concurrently with the Warsaw Dental Medica Show, the Polish Dental Society (PTS) is organizing the 9th Dental Congress under the theme "The Future of Dentistry" [1]. Speakers announced so far include Prof. Marzena Dominiak, Prof. Teresa Jackowska, and Dr. Ernest Kuchar – names that guarantee the program won't be limited to dry theory. The organizers promise a combination of scientific knowledge with practical legal and clinical solutions useful in everyday practice [1]. It's a great opportunity to pair a visit to the trade show with a solid dose of professional education.
02 · Artificial Intelligence
American $3.1 Million Grant: AI to Take Prevention Beyond the Dental Chair
On a completely different note, but still about the future of dentistry – the Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester has received $3.1 million from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to develop the SMARTeeth++ platform [2]. The project aims to combine portable radiography with medical data to detect cavities and periodontal disease early – not necessarily in the dental chair, but wherever the patient actually happens to be. Another goal is to more quickly identify people in the highest-risk group. This shows that in the US, research investment is shifting the focus of dentistry from treatment toward algorithm-supported prevention – a trend that will sooner or later reach the European market as well.
03 · Market & Demographics
Poland: Nearly 10 Dentists per 10,000 Residents, But Not Evenly Distributed
Back on home turf – the latest data show that Poland now has 37,000 practicing dentists, giving a ratio of 9.9–10.1 per 10,000 residents [3]. That puts Poland ninth in the European Union, clearly above the EU average of 8.3 [3]. The numbers are encouraging, but the devil is in the details: the situation looks best in the Łódź and Mazowieckie voivodeships, and worst in Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie [3]. It's also worth noting that the profession is becoming increasingly feminized – women now make up 73.5% of dentists in Poland [3]. This data provides useful market context when looking at the scale and geographic spread of interest in the trade show.
04 · Professional Ethics
ADA: The Future of the Profession Won't Be Built on Technology Alone
Amid grants for AI and reports of ever more innovation, it's worth hearing a counterpoint as well. In a column for the American Dental Association, Dr. Cristian Pavel argues that the future of dentistry will be decided not by faster scanners or more powerful artificial intelligence, but by a return to the doctor-patient relationship [4]. The author calls for slowing down the pace of work and spending more time "chairside," pointing to this as a remedy for the professional burnout affecting more and more dentists [4]. It's a healthy reminder that even the most advanced technology – like the one behind the grant described above [2] – only makes sense when it serves the patient relationship rather than replacing it.
05 · Patient Education
TikTok "Dental Hacks" – A Viral Trend, Real Damage
Finally, a lighter topic in tone but a serious one in consequences. American dentists are warning that popular TikTok tips – home teeth whitening, filing down enamel with a nail file, applying orthodontic rubber bands yourself, or removing tartar without training – can cause lasting damage to teeth and gums [5]. The worst part is that the effects, such as sensitivity or cavities, only show up weeks later, and repairing the damage costs many times more than a professional treatment would have [5]. It's a reminder that patient education in the age of social media is just as important today as the technological developments described in the previous paragraphs.
Summary
Summary
This week shows dentistry from several angles at once: scientific (the PTS congress), technological (AI grants), statistical (data on the number of dentists in Poland), ethical (the ADA's take on burnout), and pop-cultural (TikTok myths). All of these threads – from science, through technology, to the patient relationship – can be explored in person at the Warsaw Dental Medica Show - International Trade Fair and Congress of Dentistry and Aesthetic Medicine, taking place alongside the PTS congress at Ptak Warsaw Expo. We look forward to seeing you there!
Invitation
A scientific congress, breakthrough AI technologies, hard market data, and a genuine concern for the wellbeing of patients and practitioners alike – it all comes together in one place at the Warsaw Dental Medica Show. Visit Ptak Warsaw Expo on September 17–19, 2026, to see the latest solutions for dental practices and talk with the experts shaping the future of the industry. There will also be plenty of opportunities to swap experiences with colleagues from across Poland and abroad.
Warsaw Dental Medica Show 2026Footnotes
[1] Polskie Towarzystwo Stomatologiczne (pts.net.pl) — https://pts.net.pl/przyszlosc-stomatologii-w-jednym-miejscu-dolacz-do-ix-kongresu-pts-juz-za-kilkanascie-dni/[2] Decisions in Dentistry — https://decisionsindentistry.com/2026/09/power-of-ai-is-harnessed-to-improve-access-to-oral-healthcare/
[3] infoDENT24.pl — https://www.infodent24.pl/newsdentpost/jeden-dentysta-na-10-tys-polakow-wiecej-nie-bedzie,127881.html
[4] ADA News (American Dental Association) — https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2026/september/my-view-the-future-of-dentistry-isnt-more-technology-its-more-humanity
[5] Click2Houston (KPRC) — https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/08/18/these-viral-tiktok-dental-hacks-could-be-damaging-your-teeth-experts-warn/