Dr. Bobby Kurien is a dentist in private practice with a rich educational background and extensive experience in prosthodontics and digital dentistry. He earned his B.Ch.D from the University of Western Cape in 1999. Furthermore, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Prosthodontics (Cad/Cam) from the University of Pretoria in 2020.

He is recognised as a certified ISCD & Dentsply Sirona-trainer and has been actively involved with CEREC since 2012, demonstrating his proficiency in digital dental technologies. As a member of SADA, ISCD, SAACD and SAAAD, he stays connected with industry developments and best practices. With over two decades of experience in private practice, Bobby's focus is on implementing fully digital workflows, reflecting his dedication to embracing cutting-edge technologies to enhance patient care and treatment outcomes.

Dr Shanné Maree is an Advanced Restorative Dentist and the proud owner of DENTAL HAUS™, a prestigious dental practice located in Val de Vie Winelands Estate, Paarl.
Shanné's journey in dentistry began with her attainment of a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in 2017. Eager to expand her expertise, she pursued a Post-Graduate Diploma in Endodontics, graduating cum laude in 2019.
She has since completed numerous certification courses in Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Digital Smile Design, Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetic Dermatology.
Her dedication to the profession extends beyond her clinical work. She currently serves on the South African Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry board and has lectured locally and internationally for organisations like SADA, ITI and SAAAD.
With her continuous pursuit of knowledge and commitment to excellence, Dr. Shanné Maree strives to provide her patients with a holistic approach to health, function & facial aesthetics.

SPEAKER COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA

Dr Mfolo qualified as a dentist in 2006 at the University of the Western Cape and completed her community service in Potchefstroom. She worked in private practice from 2008 and joined the Department of Odontology at the University of Pretoria (UP) as a full-time lecturer in 2010. Dr Mfolo was extensively involved in the clinical supervision, teaching, and training of undergraduate students in dental materials, paediatric dentistry, endodontics, and basic restorative dentistry. She was also a guest lecturer for postgraduate programs in Paediatric Dentistry and Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr Mfolo obtained a postgraduate diploma in Aesthetic Dentistry and also in Community Dentistry from UP. She joined the Department of Community Dentistry in 2015 where she co-ordinated the preventive dentistry modules and various outreach projects. She is currently enrolled as a registrar in the Department of Community Dentistry at UP. Dr Mfolo’s research interest is in maternal and child oral health advocacy. She completed her MSc program with her dissertation focussed on Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and maternal oral health. She represented South Africa at the first Global ECC Summit (2018) in Bangkok and she is the South African Representative of Nations at the Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group. Dr Mfolo is currently the Vice-President of the South African Association of Paediatric Dentistry and an active member of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD) where she serves on the IAPD Awards Committee. Dr Mfolo has chaired sessions, adjudicated, and presented at local and international conferences. She also has a keen interest in Minimum Intervention Dentistry (MID) and has presented on Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) on various platforms like the IAPD and Global Symposium on MID. In line with her interest in SDF, Dr Mfolo co-authored an article on SDF with world-renowned researchers-Global oral health policies and guidelines: using SDF for caries control.

Prof Riaan Mulder qualified in 2007 as a Dentist and received his Masters in Restorative Dentistry in 2014 and PhD in Paediatric Dentistry in 2019 with a special focus of the dissertation on Glass Ionomers as a restorative biomaterial.
He works as a private practitioner every week in Special Care, Paediatric and Geriatric Dentistry. He is a full-time employee at the University of the Western Cape as an Associate Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics. As a top researcher, he has been awarded multiple prizes and research funding grants over the years. Prof Mulder has 55 national and international publication works available for download on Research Gate. The bulk of the research focuses on Dental Materials and Ethics. Prof Mulder is the only rated researcher at the Faculty of Dentistry - University of the Western Cape by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. He has dental device patents in South Africa and the United Kingdom. He lectures to the Dental fraternity locally and internationally and is a peer reviewer for Elsevier, Wiley, Nature, MDPI and SADJ.

Dr Mulder van Staden qualified as a dentist in 2008 (US/UWC). After a number of years in private practice as a general dental practitioner, she completed her training as a Specialist in Oral Medicine and Periodontics (Periodontist) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 2017.
Dr Mulder van Staden is currently involved in training postgraduate students at UWC and treating patients in private practice.
Dr Mulder van Staden teaches and provides hands-on training in the fields of Oral Medicine, Periodontics and Implantology. She is a module co-ordinator for the MDS Specialization Program in Oral Medicine and Periodontics (registrars), as well as the PDD program in Implantology at UWC.
Dr Mulder van Staden has been an active member of numerous dental committees in South Africa – namely Western Cape Branch of the South African Dental Association (SADA 2009 -2015); Executive Committee of SASPIO (South African Society of Periodontology, Implantology and Oral Medicine 2018 – 2020; 2023 to date). She is also an ITI Fellow, WIN Ambassador, ITI EXCO Committee Member (2023 to date), UWC ITI (International Team for Implantology) Study Club Director (2023 to date).
She is active in research, reviewing and publishing numerous articles in local and international journals. She (together with her husband, Dr Riaan Mulder) currently hold a South African and United Kingdom patent for a novel Dental Aerosol Suction Device (DASD), designed to improve the elimination of aerosols produced during dental procedures.
Dr Mulder van Staden believes in the importance of practicing evidence-based dentistry. She ensures she remains up to date with current international trends and practices by attending local and international congresses.
Dr Mulder van Staden recognises the importance of sharing knowledge with colleagues of all aspects of the dental fraternity. She has been a lecturer on numerous platforms – such as SADA, SASPIO, OHASA, SAAO and the ITI. She has also been interviewed on the radio and contributed to publications in Die Burger.
Dr Mulder van Staden is also very passionate about animals and her patients are not always limited to humans. She has assisted the local vet with dental treatment on dogs. She has even performed periodontal surgery and bone grafting on her own Yorkshire terrier. Together with her husband, their latest animal adventure involved the pro-bono treatment of chimpanzees at the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Mpumalanga) in 2018. Here they screened chimpanzees, performed dental extractions and fillings as required. They were also able to organize dental materials and dental instrument sponsorships (from 3M South Africa and Access Dental) for the sanctuary for continued treatment of these animals.

SPEAKER COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA

Dr Nuerisha Singh is currently a final-year Registrar in the Department of Community Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape. In 2015 she completed a Master’s Degree in Dental Public Health with a research project entitled “Compliance of Public Dental Clinics in the uMgungundlovu District with Norms and Standards in the Primary Health Care Package for South Africa”, under the supervision of Professor Sue Naidoo. Dr Singh also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Dentistry and is a graduate of the Medical University of South Africa. Nuerisha has a keen interest in climate change and its connection to oral health.