Plenary Speakers — Digicon 2026

"The Face Tells You Where. Function Tells You Whether."

A Digital Orthodontic Framework for Facially-Driven Design and Function-Based Planning

About the topic

Most of us were taught to use our digital tools the way the suppliers showed us as a faster way to produce setups, aligners, and splints. But the same scanners, software, and printers can do something far more powerful: they can help us see what we used to miss. This lecture introduces a framework where the face defines the destination of treatment, and function determines whether that destination holds. We will work through the functional basis of malocclusion, the role of digital splints as a diagnostic step before aligner therapy, and the staging considerations that separate predictable outcomes from cosmetic ones. Through aligner cases including midline correction, esthetically-driven planning, and TADs-assisted mechanics, we will see how CBCT-driven thinking weaves through every stage of digital orthodontic planning and delivery. Participants will leave with a sharper way of thinking about treatment predictability, a renewed appreciation for the tools already in their clinic, and a deeper conviction that how we think with our technology matters more than what technology we own.

About the speaker

Dr. Paolo Jesus P. Pangilinan is a clinician, educator, and digital dentistry innovator leading the institutional push to professionalize digital workflows in Philippine practice. He serves as President Elect of the Philippine Institute of Digital Dentistry (PIDD), Philippine Association of Innovative Dentistry (PAIDI), and as CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Transform3D PH, a company dedicated to digital dentistry solutions and education. A dentist with special interest for practicing orthodontics with advanced training in clear aligner therapy and a postgraduate diploma with IDDA, he integrates orthodontics, CAD/CAM workflows, and 3D printing into a function-first treatment philosophy. He is also a visiting lecturer at Dental Academy Malaysia, a clinical consultant for Sebaris Aligners, and a published author in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics. Through his clinics in San Pedro and his industry collaborations across Southeast Asia and Department of Science and Technology, Dr. Pangilinan champions a vision where Filipino dentists don't just adopt digital tools — they think differently with them.

"The Artificial Intelligence Era"

Redefining Clinical Precision in Modern Dentistry

About the topic

The field of modern dentistry is undergoing a profound paradigm shift, transitioning from basic digital automation to advanced clinical informatics. This presentation dissects the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within daily practice, moving beyond standard CAD/CAM workflows to examine the role of machine learning in achieving true clinical precision. While automated systems offer rapid diagnostic and design proposals, they often operate within a non-transparent "Black Box" that can introduce automation bias and compromise clinical judgment. This lecture opens that box, introducing the concept of Explainable AI (the "Glass Box") to demonstrate how convolutional neural networks (CNNs) process 3D mesh and radiographic data. By analyzing these workflows, the presentation establishes how clinicians can leverage predictive algorithms to mitigate cognitive fatigue and optimize diagnostic speed without sacrificing clinical autonomy. Ultimately, this session illustrates how the marriage of data-driven informatics and expert clinical validation defines the true baseline of precision in the modern AI era.

About the speaker

Dr. Francis Joven "Kiko" Amansec is a seasoned clinician, educator, and digital dentistry pioneer whose career spans almost two decades at the intersection of implants, CAD/CAM, and now artificial intelligence in clinical practice. He serves as Chief of Dental Medicine at Santa Maria Medical Center Inc. and is the founder of Dental Masters Specialty Center and 3Dental Laboratory and Milling Center. A past president of both the Philippine Society of Digital Dentistry (2018) and the Philippine Academy of Digital Dentistry (2023), he has shaped institutional thinking around digital workflows in the country. He is a Key Opinion Leader for CADCAM Pilipinas, a consultant for Dentsply Sirona, a lecturer for the Global Dental Implant Academy in Seoul, and a member of the Dental AI Association. With postgraduate training from the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Dankook University, and Bausch Institute Germany, Dr. Amansec brings a rare blend of clinical depth and international perspective to questions about where intelligent systems belong in the modern dental practice.

"Reimagining Oral Rehabilitation Through Digital Dentistry"

A Prosthodontic Perspective on the Modern Restorative Workflow

About the topic

Oral rehabilitation has always required balance — between function and esthetics, between biology and engineering. Digital dentistry now offers a chance to rethink that balance from the ground up. This plenary examines how digital workflows are reshaping prosthodontic practice, from diagnostic data capture to final restoration delivery. Through cases drawing on contemporary prosthodontic principles, Dr. Piangsuk illustrates how scanners, CAD/CAM systems, and additive manufacturing become tools for clinical thinking — not just clinical production. Participants will leave with a perspective on how digital integration changes the way complex restorative outcomes are planned, executed, and measured.

About the speaker

Dr. Tarin Piangsuk is a board-certified prosthodontist and academic with a dual career bridging Thailand and the United States. He serves on the faculty of the Crown and Bridge Division at Chiangmai University — where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery with First Honor and Master of Science in Dentistry — and concurrently as adjunct faculty in the Prosthodontics Department at the University of Iowa, where he also completed his Certificate in Prosthodontics and Master of Science in Oral Science. A Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, Dr. Piangsuk brings together rigorous board-certified training, international academic perspective, and an active clinical practice. His work focuses on integrating digital workflows into complex oral rehabilitation, with attention to how data-driven planning enables more predictable restorative outcomes.

"The Beauty of Digital Implant Prosthetic Dentistry"

Integrating Digital Workflows into Modern Implant Prosthodontics

About the topic

Digital technology has transformed the landscape of implant prosthetic dentistry, redefining the way clinicians diagnose, plan, design, and deliver implant restorations with greater precision, efficiency, and esthetics. This lecture explores the seamless integration of digital workflows into modern implant prosthodontics, from digital smile design and intraoral scanning to guided surgery, CAD/CAM restorations, and 3D printing technologies. "The Beauty of Digital Implant Prosthetic Dentistry" highlights how digital innovation enhances communication between clinician, laboratory, and patient while improving treatment predictability and patient centered outcomes. Through real clinical cases and practical insights, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how digital tools can simplify complex implant rehabilitations while preserving functional harmony and natural esthetics. This presentation will also discuss the evolving role of artificial intelligence, workflow optimization, and biomimetic principles in implant prosthetics, emphasizing how technology can elevate both clinical excellence and patient experience. Attendees will leave inspired by the artistic and scientific synergy made possible through digital dentistry and equipped with practical concepts applicable to everyday clinical practice.

About the speaker

Dr. Nol Rithy is a respected Key Opinion Leader in implant prosthodontics and President-Elect (2025–2026) of the Dental Implant Society of Cambodia (DISC). He holds a Master in Oral Implantology from Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Germany, a Master in Prosthodontics from Mahidol University in Bangkok, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the International University of Health Sciences in Phnom Penh — where he graduated top of his class. Currently, he serves as Lecturer and Clinical Tutor at the University of Puthisastra Faculty of Dentistry, and as a Dental Specialist at Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and Khema Digital Dental Solution. His clinical and research work centers on digital implant prosthetic dentistry, including a landmark thesis on immediate implant placement and restoration in the aesthetic zone — proving outcomes comparable to conventional methods. Through his blend of academic depth, international training, and active clinical practice, Dr. Rithy brings a regional perspective on how digital workflows are reshaping implant prosthodontics across Southeast Asia.

"Dental Informatics: Your Present–Future"

Bridging Today's Clinical Realities with Tomorrow's Digital Opportunities

About the topic

Digital technology is rapidly transforming the way dentistry is practiced, taught, and managed. This lecture introduces the fundamentals of dental informatics and explores how electronic health records, digital imaging, artificial intelligence, teledentistry, and data-driven decision-making are shaping modern oral healthcare. Participants will gain insight into the practical applications of informatics in improving patient care, clinical efficiency, communication, and practice management, while also examining future trends that will influence the next generation of dentistry. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday practice, dental professionals must be prepared to adapt, innovate, and lead in a digital healthcare environment. This presentation highlights how dental informatics serves as a bridge between today's clinical realities and tomorrow's opportunities, empowering dental professionals to deliver smarter, safer, and more effective care.

About the speaker

Dr. John M. Cutter is an American dentist, educator, and international lecturer with more than forty years of experience in clinical dentistry, dental education, and global oral health. A Doctor of Dental Surgery from The Ohio State University — where he received the Sphinx Award, one of the institution's highest student honors — he has served as a Dental Health Consultant to the Ohio State General Assembly and the United States Senate, and as Corporate President of multiple General Dentistry Practices in the U.S. He is the Founder and Director of the Global Oral Health Initiative, a multi-country outreach program that has identified oral healthcare needs for more than 100,000 individuals across nine nations since 2017. Currently a Professor at the National University College of Dentistry in Manila, Dr. Cutter has been featured at Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) events in Madrid and Buenos Aires, and previously served as Official Spokesperson ("Spokesdentist") for the Academy of General Dentistry.

"Beyond Printing: Bringing Life to Digital Restorations"

Unlocking Natural Esthetics for Printed Crowns and Hybrid Restorations

About the topic

The advancement of digital dentistry and additive manufacturing has revolutionized the fabrication of crowns, provisional restorations, and hybrid prostheses. While digital workflows provide efficiency, precision, and reproducibility, achieving natural esthetics remains one of the greatest challenges in printed restorations. Surface characterization and staining techniques have become essential in transforming monochromatic restorations into lifelike prostheses that harmonize with the patient's natural dentition. This presentation explores the role of staining and surface characterization in enhancing the esthetic outcomes of digitally fabricated restorations. Emphasis will be placed on creating depth, translucency, texture, and individualized features that mimic natural enamel and dentin. Clinical workflows involving digital design, 3D printing, finishing, staining, and glazing protocols will be discussed to demonstrate how artistic characterization can complement modern digital techniques. The lecture will also examine how surface finishing protocols influence optical behavior, wear resistance, plaque accumulation, and long term restoration maintenance. Through practical demonstrations and clinical cases, participants will gain insight into integrating esthetic staining techniques into contemporary restorative workflows for printed crowns and hybrid restorations. By combining digital precision with artistic surface characterization, clinicians and dental technicians can move beyond simple fabrication and produce restorations that achieve greater realism, patient satisfaction, and functional esthetics.

About the speaker

Mr. Frédéric N Furgier is a senior dental laboratory professional and international trainer with 30 years of experience across France, Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia. After founding and operating FURGIER Dental Laboratory in France for 12 years, he served as Director of Operations at SOCA Vietnam, then as CEO of VuGia Dental Laboratory (200 employees), where he led ISO and FDA certifications for export. Since 2018, he has served as SEA Professional Dental Ceramist Trainer for GC Asia Dental in Singapore, delivering 315+ professional trainings to over 3,500 participants across the Asia-Pacific region — including five consecutive years as a featured speaker at PDA Manila (2022–2026). A graduate of IPSO Dental Academy of Bordeaux (France, 1996) with additional studies in Histology and Biosafety at UCU Dental University (Uruguay), Frédéric was named Business Development Manager, Prosthetics, Asia at GC Asia Dental in 2026. He has been a featured international speaker at IDS Cologne, MIDEC Malaysia, Dentistry & Digital Sydney, and major dental congresses across Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His career bridges artisanal craftsmanship and modern digital workflows, with a focus on ceramic layering, esthetic zirconia, and additive manufacturing.