The International Dental Manufacturers (IDM) held its general assembly on 5 Sep 2026 during the FDI World Dental Congress in Prague, Czech Republic. Members of the member associations participated both in person and virtually.
New board of officers 2026–2028
The general assembly unanimously elected the following board of officers for the 2026–2028 term:
• President: Olaf Sauerbier (VOCO, Europe / FIDE)
• President-elect: Tim Long (A-dec, US / DTA)
• Vice-president: Yutaka Shinozaki (GC Corporation, Japan / JDTA)
• Immediate past president: Samantha Cheetham (SDI, Australia / ADIA)
Sauerbier, who also serves as president of FIDE — The Federation of the European Dental Industry, succeeds Cheetham, who has led IDM since Sep 2024.
“As IDM president, my priorities are clear: we must address the growing regulatory burden that threatens innovation and product availability, and we must take a firm stand against counterfeit dental products that put patients at risk. IDM will be the voice of the industry on both fronts,” said Sauerbier.
Key topics
The general assembly addressed a broad range of issues facing the global dental manufacturing industry, including:
• Regulatory burden: The increasing complexity and divergence of regulatory frameworks across regions, which raise costs, slow innovation and may limit product availability for patients
• Counterfeit products: The growing threat of counterfeit dental products posing risks to patient safety and undermining legitimate manufacturers
• Global oral health: Updates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the FDI World Dental Federation
