Jakarta, 27–30 November 2025 — Inside a large ballroom at JS Luwansa Hotel, conversations in multiple languages echoed throughout the room. Dental specialists from across Indonesia gathered with great enthusiasm. Warm stage lights illuminated the hall, welcoming world-renowned implantology experts who rarely appear together on the same stage.
Seated in the middle rows, three faculty members from the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), carefully observed every slide presented. They attended not merely as participants, but as learners eager to bring home new ideas for education, research, and clinical services in Yogyakarta.
This was The 8th Indonesian Symposium of Implant Dentistry (ISID 8)—a four-day event held under a simple yet essential theme: “Mastering the Fundamentals.” A reminder that while technology evolves and techniques advance, implant success always returns to sound foundational principles.
Meeting the Experts: When Theory Meets Wisdom
Renowned figures such as Prof. Daniel Buser and Prof. Hom-Lay Wang rarely appear together, especially in Southeast Asia. For clinicians, meeting them offered a rare opportunity to learn directly from living legends whose contributions have shaped modern implant dentistry.
“This feels like learning directly from the original source, not just from textbooks,” remarked drg. Kwartarini Murdiastuti, Sp.Perio., Sub.Sp. R.P.I.D (K)., Ph.D, accompanied by Dr. drg. Rezmelia Sari, Sp.Perio (K), and drg. Mentari Salma Nurbaiti, Sp.Perio, during the ISID 8 forum.
the ISID 8 forum.
On the first day, Prof. Buser opened the symposium with what seemed like a simple topic: When is the optimal time to place an implant after tooth extraction? However, his engaging delivery brought the room to life. He presented clinical algorithms, case examples, and detailed discussions of anatomical and esthetic considerations often overlooked by clinicians.
The large screen displayed complex anterior esthetic cases—long-debated scenarios among periodontists, prosthodontists, and oral surgeons. In this session, many participants finally found answers to questions they had long pursued.
Peri-Implantitis: A Global Challenge Thoroughly Examined
The second day featured another influential figure: Prof. Hom-Lay Wang. Many participants described his session as a true “master class” on peri-implantitis.
Peri-implantitis is not merely about inflammation and bone loss. It involves tissue behavior, crown design, systemic factors, and poor hygiene access. Prof. Wang guided participants to recognize overlooked connections: how overcontoured restorations promote plaque accumulation, how connector design affects occlusal load, and how defect morphology guides intervention strategies.
Throughout his presentation, Prof. Wang repeatedly invited reflection: “Implants do not fail because we lack technology. They fail because we forget the fundamentals.”
For the Department of Periodontology, FKG UGM, this session reinforced their long-standing commitment to preventing and managing peri-implantitis. Learning directly from a world authority strengthened the foundation they consistently apply in their educational clinics.
Beyond Technology: The Unwritten Art
The third day offered a comprehensive overview of contemporary implant dentistry, including prosthesis design, sinus augmentation, minimally invasive bone regeneration, and digitally guided implant planning.
Yet the most compelling aspect was not the technology itself, but the philosophy shared by the speakers: technology is merely a tool; clinical success depends on a deep understanding of fundamentals—soft tissue volume, adequate bone support, and implant-friendly design choices.
In the final session, Prof. Bilal Al-Nawas left the audience in silence with a powerful statement: “Complications don’t come from what we don’t know. They come from what we think we already know.”
Impact on Education and Clinical Services at FKG UGM
Upon returning from the symposium, the three Periodontology faculty members brought home more than lecture notes. They carried a new framework ready to be integrated into: specialist Periodontology course materials, implant maintenance protocols at the dental hospital (RSGM), research planning on restoration design and peri-implantitis risk, and the development of networks with international institutions and experts.
(Reporter: Andri Wicaksono, S.Sos., M.I.Kom | Photo: Archive of the Department of Periodontology, FKG UGM)
