Smile Con’25 Dental Summit
Date: 22nd April 2025
Time: 9:00 – 07:00pm
The SmileCon’25 Dental Summit, organized by the Asia Pacific Dental Students Association (APDSA) Pakistan, was held with great success at Dental College, HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences (HITEC-IMS), Taxila, on May 22, 2025. As a flagship national gathering for dental students, the one-day summit brought together over 400 participants from across Pakistan, including students, educators, clinicians, and innovators, for a vibrant exchange of academic and professional insight.
The event opened with a formal ceremony featuring welcome addresses from; Prof. Dr. Irfan Shah, Principal of HITEC-IMS, underscored the importance of academic platforms in shaping future dental leaders. Dr. Arsal Subah Sadiq, Chairperson and Founder of APDSA Pakistan, highlighted the association’s regional impact and the significance of student empowerment in dentistry. Dr. Maarij Saeed Rao, President of APDSA Pakistan and Head Organizer of SmileCon’25, spoke about the summit’s vision, a platform designed by dental students, for dental students, aiming to foster leadership, clinical excellence, and collaboration across institutions.
The scientific program commenced with a keynote lecture by Dr. Asfand Ali Khan, who discussed the complexity of root canal retreatment in a session that combined evidence-based approaches with clinical case discussions. He was followed by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Israr, who provided a detailed walkthrough of oral oncology cases, focusing on the continuum from biopsy to surgical reconstruction. A motivational session by Dr. Syed M. Faizan, who traveled from Karachi to speak at the summit, was a particular highlight. His talk on communication skills as a clinical superpower was both inspiring and widely praised by attendees.
After lunch, the panel discussion titled “From Conversations to Cutting-Edge: Running the Dental Clinic of Tomorrow” brought together Prof. Dr Mohammad Israr, Dr Owais Durrani, Dr. Usman Anwer Bhatti, Dr. Faisal Moeen moderated by Dr. Shahreen Zahid. The session explored innovations in dentistry, and inclusivity in dental practice, offering future-facing insights to an engaged audience.
Beyond the lectures, SmileCon’25 offered dynamic student-centered activities. A national-level poster competition featured research contributions from students of RMI Peshawar, FMH Lahore, IIDC Islamabad, and HITEC-IMS, judged by Dr. Amir Rafiq, Dr. Shahreen Zahid, and Dr. Azka Haroon. Two workshops complemented the scientific agenda; a pre-summit hands on surgical workshop on goat heads titled “Suture Science” hosted in SIOHS, Karachi, and a post-summit hands-on session on rotary endodontics held at HITEC-IMS. The latter was facilitated by Dr. Beenish Qureshi, Dr. Sharaz Ahmed, and Dr. Amna Riaz, and provided clinical training to a select group of participants.
One of the most innovative additions to this year’s summit was the Dental Shark Tank, a platform where students pitched entrepreneurial ideas aimed at transforming dental practice. The initiative was met with enthusiasm and marked a refreshing intersection of dentistry and innovation. Alongside this, the Dental Expo featured leading vendors including Colgate, Eighteeth, and Capital Dental Supplies, while student-run stalls added energy and creativity to the exhibition space.
The day concluded with a cultural Qawwali night and a formal dinner, offering participants a chance to network, unwind, and celebrate the success of the summit.
More than just an academic gathering, SmileCon’25 was a powerful reflection of what student leadership can achieve when driven by vision and purpose. Under the direction of Dr. Maarij Saeed and with the tireless efforts of her dedicated organizing committee, the summit set a new benchmark for student-led dental events in Pakistan.
As the national representative body of the Asia Pacific Dental Students Association, APDSA Pakistan continues to champion academic excellence, leadership development, and global collaboration. Through initiatives like SmileCon, it reaffirms its mission to empower dental students not only as future clinicians but as innovators, advocates, and changemakers within the profession.
