On February 8, 2025, Italy hosted a notable event in the field of dentistry — the ITI Study Club Day.
Organized by the Italian Section of the International Team for Implantology (ITI), the event brought together dental professionals from across the country in a distinctive format. With 14 events held simultaneously in 14 cities, the Study Club Day highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and the shared commitment to advancing implant prosthodontics and dental care.
From the alpine region of Bolzano to the Amalfi Coast in Vietri sul Mare, and from major cities like Milan and Rome to the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, the Study Club Day connected 31 Italian ITI Study Clubs. The event featured 27 speakers, including established experts as well as young ITI members presenting for the first time, and attracted 631 participants in total.
The Study Club Day was not just a stand-alone event but a reflection of the ITI Section Italy’s ongoing progress. With over 1,000 members as of 2023 and 35 Study Clubs organizing more than 120 events annually, Section Italy has become a key platform for professional development in implant dentistry. This article examines how the Study Club Day celebrated this growth, highlighted the value of collaboration as well as lifelong learning, and reinforced Italy’s role in global dental innovation.
ITI Section Italy: growth and community
The success of the Study Club Day 2025 is rooted in the steady growth of the ITI in Italy. Since its establishment, the Italian Section has developed into one of the most active ITI Sections worldwide. In 2023, it passed the 1,000 mark – a milestone that reflects its ability to connect clinicians, researchers and educators effectively.
The 35 ITI Study Clubs across Italy are central to this growth. They act as local hubs for knowledge exchange, hosting hundreds of events annually to address clinical challenges, share research, and build professional relationships. Whether in larger cities like Rome and Milan or smaller towns like Lamezia Terme and Pescara, these clubs ensure that high-quality education and collaboration are accessible to every member.
The Study Club Day 2025 was designed to celebrate this network. By organizing 14 simultaneous events – each tailored to local interests but united under a common theme – the ITI Section Italy demonstrated the strength of its decentralized yet interconnected community. As one organizer noted, “This event wasn’t just about marking 15 years of ITI Study Clubs. It was about showing how a network of dedicated professionals can shape an entire field.”
The concept: a nationwide exchange of knowledge
The Study Club Day marked the 15th anniversary of ITI Study Clubs in Italy. Over the years, these clubs have become known for their focus on clinical excellence, scientific investigation and peer mentoring. The event’s format with simultaneous meetings throughout the country was designed to highlight the values that have driven the ITI’s success in Italy:
- Collaboration: Bridging geographical and generational divides
- Innovation: Adopting new technologies and interdisciplinary methods
- Inclusivity: Offering a platform for both experienced professionals and emerging talents
The Study Club Directors played a key role in bringing this vision to life. They ensured that each event was not only informative but also reflected the unique character of that region. From hands-on workshops in Rome to clinical debates in Vietri sul Mare, the variety of formats mirrored the diversity of Italy’s dental community..
The structure: 14 cities, 31 Study Clubs, and high interconnection
The Study Club Day centered around 14 events in various Italian cities, each featuring its own distinct program and focus. The meetings were structured according to two main formats:
- Joint meetings: Eight cities hosted joint meetings, at which several different ITI Study Clubs bundled their expertise. For example, Milan saw five Study Clubs addressing “Management of Complications: Second Episode,” while four clubs joined forces in Rome for a hands-on session with the Falcon® surgical system.
- Single meetings: Six cities held focused discussions on specific topics, such as Messina’s exploration of new dental regulations or Lamezia Terme’s examination of microbiome-based therapies.
The topics covered during the event reflected the diversity of modern dental practice, ranging from digital dentistry and bone regeneration to multidisciplinary approaches and patient-centered care.
Highlights from each venue
Here’s an overview of the events held in each city, along with the topics discussed and the number of participants:
- Bolzano (25 participants) – 1 Study Club: Decision-making in the surgical approach to periodontal defects.
- Turin (38 participants) – 3 Study Clubs: The digital patient and its advantages in daily practice.
- Milan (70 participants) – 5 Study Clubs: Managing complications in implantology.
- Genoa (38 participants) – 1 Study Club: Digitally planned bone regeneration from a team perspective.
- Bologna (28 participants) – 3 Study Clubs: Surgery in fragile patients and crown-to-implant interfaces.
- Florence (25 participants) – 3 Study Clubs: Synergies between orthodontics and periodontology in advanced cases.
- Pescara (20 participants) – 1 Study Club: Clinical case discussions by members.
- Rome (85 participants) – 4 Study Clubs: Hands-on session with the Falcon® surgical system.
- Vietri sul Mare (114 participants) – 2 Study Clubs: ITI Challengers event, featuring clinical discussions among specialists.
- Bari (64 participants) – 3 Study Clubs: A multidisciplinary approach to treating gummy smiles.
- Lamezia Terme (28 participants) – 1 Study Club: Managing peri-implant diseases and microbiome-based therapies.
- Messina (15 participants) – 1 Study Club: Next Gen Grand Round, showcasing clinical cases by young ITI members.
- Palermo (65 participants) – 2 Study Clubs: New national and regional regulations in dentistry.
- Cagliari (16 participants) – 1 Study Club: Dental implants and lessons from the past.
The topics: reflecting modern dentistry
The topics chosen for the Study Club Day covered a wide range of contemporary dental issues, including:
- Clinical innovations: Digital dentistry, bone regeneration and dynamic surgery.
- Multidisciplinary approaches: Combining orthodontics, periodontology and implantology.
- Patient-centric care: Addressing the needs of fragile patients and managing complications.
- Emerging trends: The role of the microbiome in peri-implant diseases and the impact of digital patients.
- Professional development: Hands-on sessions and case discussions to enhance practical skills.
- Youth engagement: Pescara and Messina highlighted rising talents through Next Gen Grand Rounds.
- Regulation and sustainability: Palermo focused on new laws in dentistry.
The variety ensured that participants, regardless of their specialization or experience, found value in the event.
The experience: communication and collaboration
The Study Club Day leveraged modern technology to enhance its reach:
- Event design: A unified logo and custom slides created a cohesive identity across all venues.
- Social media: Instagram live sessions from Bologna, Milan, Genoa, Rome and Bari engaged online audiences, while reels and posts generated interest before and after the event.
- Virtual connectivity: A Zoom “hub” linked all the venues, enabling real-time interaction between cities.
- Documentation: Professional photographers and videographers captured lectures, workshops, and candid moments, creating a digital archive for future reference.
These efforts transformed the Study Club Day from a series of local events into a national initiative, reinforcing the ITI’s role in dental education.
The impact: a model for global dentistry
The Study Club Day 2025 accomplished three main objectives:
- Celebrating legacy: It honored the contributions of ITI Study Clubs to dentistry in Italy over the past 15 years.
- Empowering the next generation: Young clinicians gained visibility through presentations and hands-on sessions.
- Strengthening networks: Participants left with new connections, ideas and a sense of community.
As an ITI Member from Bologna noted: “This event showed that even in a digital age, face-to-face collaboration remains essential. The atmosphere in every venue was inspiring.”
Conclusion: a blueprint for the future
The Study Club Day 2025 was more than a celebration – it was a demonstration of what a decentralized yet cohesive network can achieve. By bringing together 631 professionals across 14 cities, the ITI Section Italy demonstrated the power of local communities united by a shared vision.
As the ITI Section Italy looks to the future, the Study Club Day will likely inspire further initiatives. With 1,000 members, 35 Study Clubs, and a culture of continuous learning, Italy’s dental community is well-positioned to contribute to global advancements in implantology for years to come.
ITI Study Clubs
Your local opportunity to network with peers and discuss the latest treatment approaches in implant dentistry.
There are more than 900 ITI Study Clubs worldwide. Study Club meetings are free to ITI Fellows and Members while non-ITI Members can attend two meetings free of charge as guests before taking out membership.
