Digitalizing the Dental World- The International Dental Show (IDS) ‘19

The digital world around us, is constantly expanding, creating numerous opportunities for dentists and dental practices, all over the world.


The International Dental Show (IDS) is to be held on 12 - 16 March 2019 in Cologne, Germany.  This show will be presenting the state-of-the-art technology to enhance one’s practice by implementing new innovations. IDS will be presenting an entire palette of options to the visitors and will lay out the basis for well-founded investment decisions.


IDS takes place in Cologne every two years, and is organized by the GFDI Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Dental-Industrie mbH, the commercial enterprise of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI). It is staged by the Koelnmesse GmbH, Cologne.


Nowadays, the influx of digital processes in all specialties of dentistry is often triggered off by patients. For instance, in the field of Restorative dentistry, the patient needs a crown; however he or she is short on time. One solution can be chair side systems or also a particularly fast digital workflow, which includes the practice and the laboratory..


In the field of Implantology, X-rays and model’s scanned data can facilitate the process and can enable a further colleague to be involved at short notice.
Digital support is greatly being practiced for this particular specialty, for example, for a safe surgical treatment, drilling templates can be ordered from the dental laboratory or from an industrial service providing partner. External support is also available for the virtual design and production, so that the individual work steps can be more flexibly divided, assuring quality of the procedure, saving time and money, both. According to the evaluation of experts, by IDS 2019 or IDS 2021 by the latest, more digital implant treatments will take place than analogue treatments, using standard products.


In the field of Orthodontics, virtual set-ups can be created and orthodontic appliances such as fixed appliances can be planned. For IDS 2019, orthodontic section will be providing answers for the production and assembly of detachable devices, like stretching plates and activators.

In the field of Endodontics, endo motors can now be controlled by tablets or computers, torques for the entire root canal treatment can be entered, and the complete process simulated in advance. This increases the predictability of the result of the therapy, thus establishing the success rate.

Mark Stephen Pace, Chairman of the Association of the German Dental Manufacturers e.V. (VDDI) stated that, "The current trends for the digital technologies for the practice as well as extensive workflow for surgeons, prosthodontists and dental technicians will be presented in a unique form at the International Dental Show (IDS). The opportunities of digital dentistry have now arrived in all disciplines - from implantology and prosthetics, to endodontics and orthodontics.”

He also proclaimed that attending this show will definitely be worthwhile for all dental representatives to learn and experience all the innovations at IDS.