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Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Asir Region and Chairman of the Asir Development Authority, the 2026 International Conference of the Saudi Pediatric Dentistry Society commenced yesterday, Wednesday, at King Khalid University. The conference is organized by the Society in academic partnership with the University, represented by the College of Dentistry. The two-day event brings together more than 700 participants and a distinguished group of local and international experts and speakers in a scientific program addressing the latest practices and trends in pediatric dentistry.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Nasser bin Rashid Al-Safi, Chief Executive Officer of the Asir Health Cluster; Dr. Abdullah bin Qaddah Al-Mousa, Director General of the Ministry of Health Branch in the Asir Region; and a number of health and academic leaders and specialists. The ceremony also included the opening of the conference exhibition and the signing of a cooperation agreement between King Khalid University and the Saudi Pediatric Dentistry Society.
In his address, Prof. Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Qarni, Dean of the College of Dentistry at King Khalid University, emphasized that the patronage of His Highness the Governor of the Asir Region reflects the attention and support accorded to scientific and professional events in the region and aligns with the objectives of the Asir Region Development Strategy, “Qimam and Shem,” in light of the support provided by the wise leadership to education, health, scientific research, and innovation, and their role in advancing development and shaping the future.
Al-Qarni noted that the conference aligns with King Khalid University’s directions in education, learning, research, and innovation, while complementing the development objectives of the Asir Region. He commended the efforts of the conference organizers and expressed his hope that its sessions and discussions would result in high-quality recommendations that enhance specialized practices and support the advancement of pediatric dentistry.
For his part, Dr. Abdulilah Al-Qahtani, President of the Saudi Pediatric Dentistry Society, emphasized the importance of the conference in strengthening scientific communication, facilitating the exchange of expertise among specialists, and keeping pace with the latest developments in pediatric dentistry. He noted that organizing the Society’s first international conference in the Asir Region, in academic partnership with King Khalid University, strengthens integration between scientific societies and academic institutions and supports the advancement of professional practice and scientific research.
The conference is the first international conference organized by the Saudi Pediatric Dentistry Society. Held over two days, it features more than 16 experts and speakers from four countries across eight scientific sessions moderated by 15 specialized professors and consultants, addressing a range of topics and recent developments in pediatric dentistry.
The sessions cover minimally invasive therapeutic interventions and vital therapies, airway health and orthodontics in children, sustainability and patient-centered care, complex clinical challenges, as well as the future of pediatric dentistry in the Kingdom, within a program that combines scientific knowledge with modern clinical applications and practices.
The conference offers more than 16 accredited Continuing Medical Education hours and two specialized workshops, in addition to a scientific research competition for pediatric dentists, dental students, and postgraduate students, with awards presented to the best participating research projects. More than 81 male and female volunteers are also contributing to the organization of the conference.
