On behalf of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD) and the South African Association of Paediatric Dentistry (SAAPD), we take great pleasure in inviting you to join us for the 30th IAPD Congress – taking place for the first time on the African continent – from 22-25 October 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

We’re immensely excited to host you in our beautiful country, as we explore new frontiers in Paediatric Dentistry under the theme “Refresh – Refocus – Renew”

Refresh – Refocus – Renew

Paediatric Dentistry as part of holistic, patient-centred health care.

The golden thread through this congress theme and slogan is how we as paediatric dentists should refresh, refocus and renew our approach to providing patient-centred, holistic oral health care. This theme also links to focused research in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) which is a multi-dimensional construct that includes a subjective evaluation of the individual’s oral health, functional well-being, emotional well-being, expectations and satisfaction with care and sense of self.

Especially in children, impaired oral health and function can affect growth and development- not only physically but also emotionally, socially and psychologically. Decisions made and treatment carried out on a child can have life-long consequences.