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.

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 physical but also emotional, social and psychological. Decisions made and treatment done on a child can have life-long consequences.

It is, therefore, our duty to step up to the challenges of paediatric dentistry, to consult and collaborate with each other, different specialists and medical professionals to make sure we care for the ‘whole child’ and not only the child’s teeth. The 3-day scientific program will be comprehensive, catering for all special interests pertaining to paediatric dentistry.