This year, a special competition for young dentists celebrated an important milestone. It was the final round of the 20th Global Clinical Case Contest (GCCC), a renowned event for dental students. The event took place in Constance, Germany. Ten finalists presented their challenging restorations. For these restorations, they used products from Dentsply Sirona. For the first time in this anniversary year, the organizers awarded prizes in two categories. Moreover, they honored six winners during a festive awards ceremony.
Charlotte. Dentsply Sirona organized the final of the 20th Global Clinical Case Contest (GCCC)—its international student competition that acknowledges dental students for achieving outstanding clinical results—as a day packed with events. For the first time, there were six proud winners. Around 300 student case studies were submitted this year. Notably, about one eighth focused on indirect restorations. However, the majority focused on direct restorations. This year, for the first time, the two categories were evaluated and awarded separately. In addition, dental students from a total of 108 medical faculties took part.
Ten finalists from eight countries – Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Germany – made it to the final round at Lake Constance. They presented their esthetic dental restorations to the distinguished international GCCC jury. The jury consisted of Dr. med. dent. Britta Hahn, University Hospital Würzburg (Germany), Polyclinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology. Dr. Ian Cline, dentist at King’s College (Great Britain), and Prof. Gaetano Paolone from the University of Milan (Italy) were also jury members. All submitted cases were complex restorations in the anterior or posterior region. Moreover, the participants implemented these cases using equipment and materials from Dentsply Sirona. The organizers awarded attractive prizes to the finalists of the Global Clinical Case Contest.
Direct and indirect restorations: Six winners in two categories
For the first time, the organizers divided the submissions into two categories “Direct restorations” and “Indirect restorations” to allow better comparison between the candidates’ work. They then selected and featured three winners in each category.
First prize in the “direct restorations” category went to Sofiia Grindenko from the Russian University of Medicine in Moscow. She presented the case of a 32 years old male patient. This patient received a direct composite restoration with full covering veneers (Neo Spectra® ST composites, Esthet-X® HD). Second place went to Yiting Chen from the Capital Medical University in Beijing (China). This was with the case of a female patient who suffered from a fractured central incisor. The clinician treated the patient with a direct composite restoration (Neo Spectra®, Prime&Bond Universal). In addition, the jury awarded third place to Ying Cheng Lu from Nation Cheng Kung University in Taiwan (R.O.C.) for a patient case. This case, the clinician restored a fractured upper central incisor using a direct composite restoration (Spectra® ST resin, Prime&Bond Universal, Enhance Finishing).
In the “indirect restorations” category using CAD/ CAM-Technology, Chuttaporn Dejdumrongwood from the Chiang Mai University of Thailand won the competition with a case study. Here, a male patient had concerns about an unesthetic smile and spacing in the maxillary anterior region. He got a new smile with digital manufactured veneers (CEREC TesseraTM, Calibra® veneer, Prime&Bond® Universal).
Second place went to Beatrice Julia Popescu from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (Germany). She impressed the panel with the case of a 19 year old patient with peg-shaped front teeth and missing mandibular central incisors. He got crowns for 11 and 21 and veneers for 12 and 22. She also did composite build-ups on teeth 13 and 23. Furthermore, she did two single wing adhesive bridges in the lower jaw (veneers: CEREC TesseraTM, bridge: CEREC MTLTM Zirconia).
Third place went to Chang Guo from the Fourth Military Medical University of Xi’an, Shaanxi (China). He presented the case of a female patient with discolored teeth compromised by secondary caries and bruxism. She received a restoration with veneers from 12 to 22 (Spectra® ST, Celtra, Prime&Bond Universal, Calibra® Veneer).
Ten finalists from eight countries made it to the final round of the 20th Global Clinical Case Contest (GCCC).
The winners with the jury members, from left to right: Prof. Gaetano Paolone, Dr. med. dent. Britta Hahn, Sofia Grindenko, Chuttaporn Dejdumrongwood, Dr. Ian Cline and Prof. Dr. Rainer Seemann.
The final round of the 20th Global Clinical Case Contest (GCCC), a renowned event for dental students, took place in Constance, Germany.
Consistently high standard of work submitted at Global Clinical Case Contest
The jury praised the high standard of the entries. “It’s remarkable how enthusiastically and precisely the students implemented their cases,” summarized jury member Dr. Britta Hahn. “Each finalist impressively demonstrated how CAD/ CAM workflows and modern materials can be used to benefit patients both esthetically and functionally at a very high level.”
The competition also demonstrated continuity among its participants and patrons. Several tutors who had successfully guided their students to the GCCC finals in previous years returned this year with new young talent. “I really appreciate the support I receive from my university, from Dentsply Sirona, and through this competition,” said Sofiia Grindenko. “Winning is obviously a huge compliment for my work. But it’s also a great motivation to continue striving to achieve the best possible esthetic outcomes for my patients in the future.”
Fig. 1Winner case direct restorations with the initial situation: multiple fragmentary defective restorations, a small fracture at the incisal edge of 1.2; secondary caries; multiple brownish discoloration at the cervical area
Fig. 2 Winner case direct restorations with the final situation: significally improved anterior esthetics due to symmetric shape imparting. Additionally, tight contact points restoring whiter smile shade imparting, an abundant natural optics reconstructing.
Fig. 3 Winner case indirect restoration with a case that shows spacing, orthodontically substituted first premolars in the canine position. Also, gingival margin discrepancies
Fig. 4 Winner case indirect restorations: Frontal intra-oral view at 1-month follow up after cementation, showing improved overall tooth appearance and esthetics.
Implementing the best possible standards of care from the start
“The Global Clinical Case Contest is an important part of our efforts in supporting young dental professionals early in their careers,” explains Prof. Rainer Seemann, Vice President Chief Clinical Officer at Dentsply Sirona. “We aim to give future dentists confidence in using modern technology and enable them to deliver the best possible care right from the start of their clinical journey. We collaborate with universities around the world to develop innovative training programs. This is to ensure the next generation remains at the forefront of research and clinical practice. Moreover, this dental student case contest emphasizes Dentsply Sirona’s commitment to transforming dentistry. It also helps dental professionals move forward with confidence.”
The Dentsply Sirona Global Clinical Case Contest has been held since 2004 / 2005. It was open to dental students enrolled in a college or university at the time of entering the contest. Participants document their case with direct or indirect restorations including photographic evidence. This is done with the support of a tutor from their university