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I meetings _ DGZI _DGZI (German Association of Dental Im- plantology) celebrated its 40th Annual Interna- tional Congress on October 1st and 2nd in Berlin. With over 500 participants it attracted wide inter- est and met all ambitious expectations. Highly qualified speakers from practice and science gave an insight into the status of and future opportuni- ties in this booming field of dentistry. Not only did wecelebratetheanniversaryofourassociation,but DGZI’s efforts in promoting the standing implan- tologyindentistrywerealsocelebrated,asthesuc- cessofthisfieldisdueingreatdealtotheeffortsof DGZI. In his opening speech DGZI President Dr Fried- helmHeinemanncomparedtheassociationsdevel- opment with human life: “In the beginning it was small with only seven founding members, then came the age of “puberty” with times of dramatic development, but now we are in our prime. We are established, respected and well equipped, and we deliberately assume the responsibility for our ex- pert field.” Many friendships with other associa- tionshavebeenestablishedanddevelopedoverthe years. Among others, Dr Heinemann underscored DGZI’s excellent cooperation with the German Dental Medical Association (BZÄK), the Profes- sional Association of Oral Surgeons e.V. (BDO), the German Association of Prosthodontics and Dental Materials (DGPro) and the German Association of Oral Implantology e.V. (DGI), which he calls “the lit- tle brother”. “It is crucial to show common ground”, said Dr Heinemann. “There have been many exam- ples in the past where politics have succeeded in pitting one group against another, true to the motto ‘divide et impera’ (divide and rule).” _Together we are strong— globally interconnected The Board of Directors was particularly proud of DGZI’s international reach. For example the entire Board of the Japanese Association AIAI was gath- ered in the auditorium. In his welcoming speech, BZÄK’s President Dr Peter Engel expressed it so: “Implantology has mutated from a supposed ugly After 40 years, DGZI is in its prime DGZI celebrates its anniversary with a top class congress Author_Dr Christian Ehrensberger, Germany 38 I implants4_2010