Authenticity, solidarity, sustainability set the pillar for the agile emerging health system that had responded with maximum possible efficiency to abrupt and unanticipated events at local, regional, and global levels and maintain continuity of services and ensure population health safety in collaboration with other state agencies. The health sector in Saudi Arabia was unique since foundation because it was carefully aligned with social, political, and economic determinants of health. The sector was blessed with generous governmental support. Population health is a priority since establishment.

Regardless the efforts that documented Saudi Arabia modern history, few had assessed the formal management of health sector. In the context of social history, in depth analysis of health sector in Saudi Arabia is pivotal for comprehensive understanding of the historical background of one of the most complex sectors because of its multidimensional nature and the need for multilateral assessment. Collaboration between historians and health research is the cornerstone for unbiased, comprehensive, and precise documentation and assessment. Thus, academic institutes and official authorities should invest to support research activities that aim to document and assess history. Scientific evidence should enrich the literature and establish a reference library for art and culture movement to infuse their materials with necessary information based on solid scientific literature.

Documenting the history of health sector in Saudi Arabia is an opportunity for researchers, historians, artists, and contents creators to draw the sector history architecture in the context of the historical period and portray the impact of social, political, and economical dilemma. History departments at academic institutes may consider opening up for engagement of health researchers and develop training programs to equip researchers with necessary tools to verify and assess the available unaudited data. Unless efforts united to write various chapters of health sector in Saudi Arabia across different historical periods, we will continue to be challenges with resources limitation and the need to assess available publications might be influenced by political tendencies or personal perspectives. It is to stand united to lay the foundation for assessing health sector from historical perspective.

Dubai, UAE – March 5, 2025: AEEDC Dubai, the world’s largest annual dental event, has officially signed a collaboration agreement with CADEX (Central Asia Dental Expo) to strengthen global partnerships and foster innovation in the dental industry. The agreement was signed by Tariq AlMadani, CEO of INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions, and Nursulu Kossuvalova, General Manager of CADEX.

This partnership aims to expand international collaboration, enhance knowledge-sharing, and create new business opportunities within the dental and oral healthcare sectors. The collaboration was marked by CADEX’s participation in AEEDC Dubai 2025, with AEEDC set to reciprocate by participating in CADEX October 2025 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Industry leaders from Kazakhstan and Central Asia have lauded the initiative for its role in advancing dentistry and expanding business networks. With the Central Asian oral care market projected to reach $343.88 million by 2025, this partnership positions both AEEDC Dubai and CADEX as key players in shaping the future of global dentistry.

For further inquiries, please contact:

• INDEX Media: Dima Alkananie – Dima.Alkananie@index.ae
• CADEX: Nursulu Kossuvalova – nursulu@ns-expo.kz
• AEEDC Dubai: Sophie Dudicourt / Wissam Ezzeddine – Sophie.dudicourt@index.ae / w.ezzeddine@index.ae

Visit: www.aeedc.com | www.cadex.kz

Occupational health focuses on maintaining and promoting highest degree of physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. Dental professionals are no exception and at risk of different occupational hazards that range from toxicity to chemicals routinely consumed in dentistry, risk for cross infection, to musculoskeletal diseases/ disorders consequential to sub-optimal working posture. Awareness of these occupational hazard and implementation of mitigation and/ or preventive strategies can provide safe practice environment and create a protective ecosystem for all concerned and improve the total dental professionals’ quality of life.

Multilateral recognition and acknowledgement of occupational hazard risk among dental professionals is necessary to ensure holistic approach to addressing concerns and challenges and establish evidence-based policies. The interaction between policy makers, researchers, and professionals is pivotal to support and enhance establishment of evidence-based policies, awareness campaigns, and occupational health and wellness programs. Policy makers often are distracted by patients-centered and/ or population-centered approach. Yet, it is the researchers and professional societies responsibility to collaborate and conduct activities and project that assess and prioritize professionals needs and demands, and draft evidence-based policies and recommendations. Professional societies are responsible for orchestrating awareness campaigns and push through professional needs. Professionals should adhere to protective measures to preserve their health and actively participate in activities that improve the work place ecosystem. Occupational health insurance is increasingly becoming a necessity for dental health professionals.

Management of dental professionals’ exposure to occupational health hazard requires multilateral collaboration. It is vital to preserve the smile and health of dental professionals; the creator of population smile.

Health needs for people with disabilities are complex because of interaction between physical, mental, psychological, social, physiological, and economic determinants. Nevertheless, health of people with disabilities is linked to parents/ caregivers socioeconomic, education, and awareness status. Oral health for people with disabilities presents a unique challenge because referral to oral/ dental care is often dependent on health professionals literacy and awareness and parents/ caregivers’ acknowledgement of oral/ dental health concerns. Furthermore, dental/oral health professionals including dentists are not engaged in holistic health management for people with disabilities in most institutes. Therefore, the impact of oral health on physical and mental health is well documented. Given the medical issues that people with disabilities may suffer from, oral health maintenance is becoming a priority. The role of dental professional is pivotal to ensure delivery of high standard services and care and oral health policy makers and researchers should focus on building a model that allows for interaction between dental services and other health services.

Although the value of oral health in people with disabilities is well-documented and acknowledged by professionals, researchers, and policy makers, initiatives that supported integrated oral health services into health service packages for people with disabilities are moving forward slower than anticipated because of limited data available to evaluate needs, demands and problem magnitude. Holistic approach to address oral health concerns in people with disabilities require integrated clinical model is necessary to achieve the objective. Multidisciplinary activities should be designed to ensure the wheel of education, research, and clinical services are functional and interactive. It is important to revise national health research priorities to ensure inclusion of oral health and disability health into the list in order to establish evidence-based practice guidelines and policies. Caregivers and parents training on maintain oral hygiene for people with disabilities must be a priority to reduce the economic, medical, and psychological burden. Furthermore, dental, medical, and allied health professions academic institutes should revise the curriculum to respond to the rising need for a reform that ensure high standards disability friendly healthcare system.

Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on how we can improve oral health care for individuals with disabilities in the comments below.

By: Dr. Weam Banjar; DDS., MS in Clinical Research

Athletes health is a national priority because it affects their performance and the country’s image during participation in Olympics and World Cups. Sport medicine contributes to healthier athletes and better performance and had evolved into a multidisciplinary field. Oral health for athletes focuses on prevention and management of athletics-related injuries and oral diseases. Therefore, sport dentistry is a branch of dentistry dealing with prevention and treatment of pathogenesis and injuries or the oral cavity and stomatognathic system related to sport practice.

Sport dentistry had been recognized as a key element of athletic health. Maintaining good oral health helps to improve performance and prevent injuries. Furthermore, periodical check-up necessary to avoid any potential conditions that may negatively affect training, performance and participation in international competition. Athletes hold a social responsibility toward the youth because they set an example for maintain good oral and dental health. Sport dentistry not only ensure that athletes receive optimal care but also establish the foundation for customized preventive oral health programs that address athletes’ needs and answer their concerns.

Training programs in sport dentistry should adapt a holistic approach in order to provide comprehensive care for athletes. Specialized professionals in sport dentistry are not limited to operate on professional athletes but also may work in gyms and schools to provide preventive and first aid care for orofacial injuries related to sport practice and to collaborate with dental public health professionals to design customized oral health promotion programs for athletics.

By: Dr. Weam Banjar; Researcher

Social media platforms have created a new avenue for sharing experiences, become integrated with many daily routines, and provided an awareness and reflection hub. Social media provides opportunities to enhance users’ health experience by facilitating social connections and interactions with health professionals and officials, and exposure to support and peer review. Furthermore, social media platforms may serve as an awareness and reflection hub through which campaigns could be organized and social media influencers may participate to shape the public opinion and improve the level of health literacy.

The influence of social media platforms on the health system, health policies, and health awareness and literacy should be carefully monitored. Regardless of the potential positive impact of social media content, public health professionals and health officials are aware of the increasing infodemic threat. The spread of information via social media is very rapid and the resonating echo is very high. An Infodemic usually produces an unfavorable public response. During a pandemic and health emergencies, an infodemic challenges proper implementation of a risk communication plan and population education/awareness campaigns. An Infodemic undermines countries’ commitment to global health security principles. Social media platforms are flooded with false information that may endanger population health literacy and the level of health awareness. An Infodemic and sharing false information undermines the interaction between health professionals, health officials, and the population. Evidence-based policies and programs to combat the infodemic and sharing false health-related information on social media require a multidisciplinary approach. Multidisciplinary research activities are needed to support administrative and technical efforts.

Join the conversation and contribute to combating misinformation and promoting health literacy! Share your thoughts, questions, and insights in the comments section below. Your engagement helps build a community dedicated to evidence-based health information and awareness. Let’s work together to make a positive impact. Start by leaving your comment now!

Diplomacy is often perceived as formal interaction with foreign officials. Thus, traditional diplomacy focuses on formal closed activities between official actors. Therefore, the concept of diplomacy had been extended to ensure efficient communication and influence on public opinion between governments and the population. Public diplomacy is outreach and engagement that strengthens the relationship between global communities, and creates mutual understanding and respect. In contrast to closed meetings in traditional diplomacy, public diplomacy utilizes organized channels that include: outreach to journalists, digital platform via websites, podcasts, social media platforms, blogs, professional summits and conferences, and entertainment and cultural events. 

Public diplomacy for health industry involves multilevel, multi-sectoral engagement that contributes to organized efforts that reflect the progress in health industry, shed light on investment opportunities, define global position, conduct comparative research and country assessment, public reports and scientific papers, and host events and summits and organize media appearance. global health professionals are fully aware that the world is interconnected and health is a dynamic parameter that is affected directly or indirectly by political instability, climate changes, natural disasters, wars, and population dynamic. Efforts that focus on health system performance indicators, equitable access to health services, and quality of healthcare services must be complemented with organized targeted campaigns that carry on the dialogue with global audience. Campaigns and activities should be carefully designed to avoid bias therefore collaboration with independent organizations that create hubs and research labs that present a medium to produce materials that support global health security.

A Century of Commitment; Calling for Social Historians

Weam Banjar | Featured, General | No Comments

The health sector in Saudi Arabia presents a rich material for social historians to assess the interaction between political, social, economic determinants and establishment of modernized health sector. As of…

Press Release: AEEDC Dubai and CADEX Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Global Dental Industry

Mahmoud H. Al-Johani | General | No Comments

Press Release: AEEDC Dubai and CADEX Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Global Dental Industry   Dubai, UAE – March 5, 2025: AEEDC Dubai, the world's largest annual dental event, has…

Instagram and Oral Health: How Social Media Shapes Consumer Toothpaste Choices

Mahmoud H. Al-Johani | Featured | No Comments

Instagram and Oral Health: How Social Media Shapes Consumer Toothpaste Choices Table of Contents Introduction Instagram’s Growing Influence on Oral Health Key Findings from the Study Promotional vs. Educational Content…

Dentists’ Health Matters II

Weam Banjar | Featured, General | No Comments

Dentists’ Health Matters By: Dr. Weam M. Banjar; Researcher Occupational health focuses on maintaining and promoting highest degree of physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. Dental…

Dr. Weam Mohammed Banjar, DDS., MS in Clinical Research

Historical events present suitable case studies to assess the interaction between health and social, economic, and political determinants. The history of the Arabian Peninsula. Regardless anthropological and archeological studies and research that had assessed the Arabian Peninsula civilization throughout the history, health history of the region is rarely referred to. Population dynamic is interactive with- and reactive to customs and traditions, available resources, geographical location, climate changes, disasters, political status, and immigration movement and traveling. Yet, the Arabian Peninsula had witnessed number of tragic epidemics and outbreaks that affected population health and influenced their behavior, social interaction, health practices and believes, and common language.

Health history of the Arabian Peninsula is yet an undiscovered treasure. Documentation preserves the history and offers reference to understand the society throughout different historical periods and determine the level and direction of interaction with health determinations. However, it is a multi-level, multi-disciplinary process that requires careful analysis of available resources that include diaries, letters, interviews, oral histories, biographies, travelers’ commentaries, folk songs, drawing, novels, newspapers articles and reports, governmental documents, stone inscription, and manuscripts. Awareness is the first step to acknowledge the importance of documenting health history of the Arabian Peninsula. Capacity building and supporting research activities are the second step. Capacity building involve not only academic training for health professionals to equip them with archeological knowledge and historical studies principles to prepare health historians but also training programs for historians to understand health determinants and their interaction with population health as well as programs designed for technicians. Studies that had assessed ancient civilization reflected that unique progress in health practices.

The classic perception of health profession that limit practice to prevention and curative aspects should be changed to engage health professions in activities beyond the classical practice. Health profession involvement in archeological activities, manuscript analysis, and historical events assessments should help draw a better conclusion of ancient civilizations.

Guest of Honour GERMANY’S DENTAL INDUSTRY” – AEEDC Dubai 2024 conference.

Germany’s Dental Industry to be Guest of Honour at AEEDC Dubai 2024
AEEDC Dubai is ‘The Largest Annual Scientific Dental Conference and Exhibition in the World’

Dubai, UAE – 3 October 2023: The global dental and oral health industry is set to make an extraordinary impact this coming year as it was announced that Germany’s Dental Industry will be the Guest of Honour at next year’s 28th edition of the annual International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition – AEEDC Dubai 2024.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the International Dental Show (IDS), the leading global event for the dental community – which ensures sustainable success as a platform for innovation and market trends, between the Association of the German Dental Industry (VDDI) and INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions, the organizers of the annual event AEEDC Dubai.
“I am very honored about this initiative, which will give the manufacturers of the German Dental Industry the opportunity to tighten their contacts and business activities in this important regional target market and to be able to further expand them in many places. The VDDI has always been happy to support the AEEDC in Dubai for decades. This is a new milestone in our friendly cooperation” stated Mark Stephen Pace, Chairman of the Board of the Association of the German Dental Industry (VDDI). “I am very thankful for the tremendous support of our German Government represented the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the of the AUMA – Association of the German Trade Fair Industry,” he added.
The news was received with positive response as AEEDC Dubai is known as ‘The Largest Annual Scientific Dental Conference and Exhibition in the World’ where more than 66,000 people from 155 countries attend. Last year alone showcased more than 4,800 brands from over 3,600 companies, and the 2024 edition is set to expand by nearly 30%.

Eng. Anas Al Madani, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of INDEX Holding, stated: “Germany has had a long-standing position within AEEDC Dubai as major contributors for innovative technology and enhanced treatments methods. We appreciate the valuable contributions they have made over the years and we are delighted to have them as our Guest of Honour of AEEDC Dubai 2024.”
AEEDC Dubai connects dental and oral care companies, manufacturers, and distributors from around the world to reach new business markets and increase their networks. Having Germany’s Dental Industry as the Guest of Honour will further support German products to increase their market share and introduce new products to the world. The Guest of Honour position will place a major spotlight on German brands and products at AEEDC Dubai and highlight them throughout the exhibition for attendees to be aware of their contributions to the global dental industry which spans for more than 100 years.
Germany’s Dental Industry is known for their high-quality products as their turnover has increased by more than 28% to over 6.2 billion euros, where export markets have contributed significantly to this with a total of 4.1 billion euros, and expected to increase steadily over the next year.

About VDDI
Association of the German Dental Industry (VDDI) is part of a worldwide expanding healthcare market and holds a leading position within the international dental industry. VDDI’s business activities include more than 60,000 products in the field of fixtures and fittings, instruments, appliances, and materials, covering the complete spectrum of dentistry from diagnostics through preventive medicine to final restoration.

About AEEDC Dubai
AEEDC Dubai is an annual international three-day conference and exhibition specialized in dentistry which brings together oral health practitioners and producers from around the world, showcases the latest innovative technology and provides companies in the industry an opportunity to forge long-term deals and joint investments to serve the needs of local, regional, and international markets.
AEEDC Dubai 2024 will take place on February 6th-8th at the Dubai World Trade Centre and is organized annually by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Org. LLC. – a member of INDEX Holding. The event is supported by Dubai Health Authority, Scientific Global Dental Alliance, Dental Federation, Executive Board of the Health Ministers Council for Gulf Cooperation Council States, Gulf Health Council, Riyadh Elm University, Arab Academy for Continuing Dental Education, Saudi Dental Society, Saudi Orthodontic Society, Saudi Prosthodontic Society, International Association for Dental Research, The Greater New York Dental Meeting and Manitoba Dental Association.

Conclusions from the paper “Effects of chlorhexidine mouthwash on the oral microbiome”:

• The use of chlorhexidine mouthwash leads to a significant shift in the composition of the oral microbiome, with increased abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, and reduced content of Bacteroidetes, TM7, SR1, and Fusobacteria.
• This shift in the microbiome is associated with more acidic conditions in the saliva, as indicated by a decrease in saliva pH and buffering capacity.
• Chlorhexidine mouthwash also results in increased saliva lactate and glucose levels.
• Saliva and plasma nitrite concentrations are lower after using chlorhexidine, potentially impacting nitrite availability.
• There is a trend of increased systolic blood pressure following chlorhexidine use.
• These findings suggest that the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash can have significant effects on the oral microbiome, saliva composition, and nitrite availability, which may have implications for oral and systemic health.

• ▪️ Further reading:
  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61912-4
• ▪️ Related link:
  https://www.nature.com/

A Century of Commitment; Calling for Social Historians

Weam Banjar | Featured, General | No Comments

The health sector in Saudi Arabia presents a rich material for social historians to assess the interaction between political, social, economic determinants and establishment of modernized health sector. As of…

Press Release: AEEDC Dubai and CADEX Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Global Dental Industry

Mahmoud H. Al-Johani | General | No Comments

Press Release: AEEDC Dubai and CADEX Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Global Dental Industry   Dubai, UAE – March 5, 2025: AEEDC Dubai, the world's largest annual dental event, has…

Instagram and Oral Health: How Social Media Shapes Consumer Toothpaste Choices

Mahmoud H. Al-Johani | Featured | No Comments

Instagram and Oral Health: How Social Media Shapes Consumer Toothpaste Choices Table of Contents Introduction Instagram’s Growing Influence on Oral Health Key Findings from the Study Promotional vs. Educational Content…

Dentists’ Health Matters II

Weam Banjar | Featured, General | No Comments

Dentists’ Health Matters By: Dr. Weam M. Banjar; Researcher Occupational health focuses on maintaining and promoting highest degree of physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. Dental…