The “Dentistry Spring Symposium 2026”, organized under the leadership of the Northern Cyprus Association of Dental Students, addressed clinical innovations and technological advancements in dentistry.
Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, hosted the “Dentistry Spring Symposium 2026”. Organized in collaboration with the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry, the Dean’s Office of Dentistry, and the Northern Cyprus Association of Dental Students, the “Dentistry Spring Symposium 2026” was successfully completed with theoretical and practical sessions. The scientific sessions on the first day were held at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center, while the practical training sessions on June 13-14 took place at the Faculty of Dentistry. Throughout the program, current and clinically relevant topics such as implantology, prosthetic dentistry, digital dentistry, and artificial intelligence applications were discussed. Critical topics were addressed.
The symposium, which began with a moment of silence and reading of the National Anthem, included speeches by Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, NCADS Student Union Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Ersalıcı, and NCADS Student Union President, Intern Dentist Berkay Hamurcu. Following the opening speeches, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ presented certificates of appreciation to Near East University Faculty of Dentistry students Intern Dentist Bayram Yağız Abacı and NCADS President Intern Dentist Berkay Hamurcu, who brought great pride to Northern Cyprus by winning the championship at the “Dental Olympics” held within the scope of the 72nd Semester Meeting of the International Association of Dental Students (IADS) in Baku. An opening reception was also held at the Cyprus Car Museum after the first day of the symposium.
From Implantology to Artificial Intelligence: Current Clinical Approaches in Dentistry Approaches…
Within the scope of the symposium; Prof. Dr. İsmail Doruk Koçyiğit addressed the basic clinical approaches of implantology with his presentation titled “One Tooth, A Big Difference: The Most Fundamental Application of Implantology”, while Prof. Dr. Oğuz Ozan discussed the transformation of digital technologies in prosthetic applications with his presentation “Ctrl+Alt+Digital: Digital Transformation in Implant-Supported Prostheses”. Dr. Sina Saygılı presented “Prosthetic Pre-Planning for Implant Treatments: Why and How?”. In his presentation titled “Timing of Soft Tissue Augmentation Around Dental Implants”, Dt. Leen Alzer and Dt. Lana Matalqah highlighted the importance of timing in soft tissue management.
Dt. Zelal Yaren Yıldırım assessed the integration of artificial intelligence into dentistry in her presentation titled “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Prosthetic Dentistry and Implantology”, while Dt. Berkay Hamurcu addressed current clinical protocols with his presentation “A New Era in Autologous Membranes: Clinical Evolution of e-PRF Protocols”. Dt. Hamzeh Marei shared clinical results regarding implant success with his presentation titled “Clinical Outcomes of Short and Standard Dental Implants in Posterior Edentulism Areas.”
In the practical training component of the symposium, students practiced basic implantology procedures on models in the “Basic Implantology Practical Training Course” held on Saturday, June 13th. They had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. In the hands-on training, where models and implant equipment were provided with the support of Straumann Turkey, Prof. Dr. H. Güney Yılmaz, along with Chief Physician Assoc. Dr. Onur Uyanık and faculty members and staff from the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Periodontology, provided one-on-one support to the students.
On Sunday, June 14th, throughout the hands-on training titled “Prosthetic Treatment-Focused Implant Planning and Guide Design Examples”, students learned the digital planning process practically using the Exocad program under the guidance of Dr. Sina Saygılı. The session demonstrated the process of designing surgical guides by integrating computed tomography scans with intraoral scans. Students had the opportunity to experience both digital technologies and implantology planning processes firsthand.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “You are all representatives of a profession that will change the quality of life for people in the future.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ began his speech by saying, “You are all representatives of a profession that will change the quality of life of people in the future.” Emphasizing that healthcare professionals will stand out not only with their knowledge but also with their ability to renew themselves within a constantly changing and developing system, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized the importance of lifelong learning for professional development, stating, “The day a healthcare professional stops learning is a thing of the past.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, also speaking on the Near East University’s strong infrastructure in the field of health, stated that they have a comprehensive health ecosystem consisting of the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, as well as three hospitals, two dental hospitals, and an animal hospital. Expressing that health education has now transformed into a global structure transcending national borders, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized the important role of student unions in this process, saying, “I don’t see student unions merely as social clubs; they are the first nodal points of the future international health networks.”
Assist. Prof. Dr. İsmet Ersalıcı: “One of our biggest goals is to bring an international congress back to Northern Cyprus and to take all our existing activities further.”
Emphasizing that NCADS is not a structure limited only to academic studies, Assist. Prof. Dr. İsmet Ersalıcı, the NCADS Student Union Advisor, stated that students are prepared for the profession with a strong team spirit. Highlighting the importance of social and sporting activities, Assist. Prof. Dr. İsmet Ersalıcı said, “Our students come together in a very wide range of activities, from dental parties to diving events, from football, volleyball and basketball tournaments to e-sports and table tennis.” Assist. Prof. Dr. Ersalıcı stated that these activities instill a strong team spirit in students on their professional journey.
Also highlighting social responsibility projects, Assist. Prof. Dr. İsmet Ersalıcı stated that this awareness is strengthened every year through antibiotic awareness campaigns, visits to elderly care homes, oral screenings in kindergartens, and oral hygiene training. Sharing his future goals, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ersalıcı said, “One of our biggest goals is to bring an international congress back to Northern Cyprus and to take all our current activities to the next level.”
Berkay Hamurcu: “We are not just an ordinary student group; we are a huge family.”
Stating that NCADS was founded in 2013 and is the first and only dental student association in the TRNC, NCADS Student Union President and Trainee Dentist Berkay Hamurcu said, “We are not just an ordinary student group. We are a huge family united by the vision of ‘Stronger Together.’” He stated that their aims are to facilitate the flow of national and international information, develop professional skills, and create a strong communication network among dental students. He added that after becoming a full member of the International Association of Dental Students (IADS), they have taken on a more active role on a global scale.
Berkambucu noted that they successfully represented the TRNC at the IADS 72nd Semester Meeting General Assembly in Baku, and that through contacts made within the scope of the Exchange Fair, they laid the foundations for important collaborations for international student exchange programs. Highlighting that one of NCADS’ most significant achievements is winning the Dental Olympics championship, Hamurcu said, “This championship by our team has demonstrated our students’ knowledge and clinical skills, as well as the quality of education at our faculty, on an international level.”
