A New Era for Brazilian Dentistry in America

Orlando, FL – November 2025
The Dental Summit 2025 officially marked the arrival of the Associação Brasileira de Odontologia (ABO) in the United States, with the opening of its first international office in Orlando. For the first time in its 106-year history, Brazil’s century-old dental association has crossed borders, bringing its legacy of education and innovation to a country facing one of the most severe shortages of dental professionals in decades.

More than 200 professionals attended the two-day event, including 50 dentists who traveled from Brazil exclusively for the summit. Over 30 renowned speakers from the U.S., Brazil, and Europe shared insights on the future of dentistry, immigration pathways, and the opportunities awaiting professionals in America.

“A Historic Milestone”

“We are bringing to the United States an institution built on more than a century of scientific excellence and social contribution,” said Dr. Marcelo Schettini, President of ABO-US. “Our mission is to support Brazilian dentists, expand opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to a country that urgently needs qualified professionals.”

According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 7,000 regions are classified as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, leaving 59 million Americans without adequate oral healthcare. Florida, New York, California, and Texas lead the list of states most in need.

Highlights from the Summit

The Immigrant Dentist’s Journey

Career strategist Andrea Bower delivered an emotional session on the path “from dream to strategy,” redefining the profile of the successful immigrant dentist as resilient, connected, and future-oriented.

Digital Orthodontics

Orthodontist Thiago Monte captivated the audience by showing how digital planning is replacing guesswork with mathematical precision, especially in complex cases of overbite and overjet.

Esthetics and Harmonization

With humor and scientific rigor, Marília Figueiredo presented her “3Ps Method”—Proportion, Precision, and Preservation—earning applause for its simplicity and transformative results in facial esthetics.

Dentistry with Purpose

Dentist Ericardo Montanha shared stories from rural Brazil, where improvisation and empathy often save lives. “Dentistry is not only about smiles—it’s about dignity,” he said.

Implantology at the Limits

Experts Reginaldo Migliorança, Ivo Erthal, and Márcio Nucci explored cutting-edge solutions for extreme maxillary atrophy, presenting alternatives once thought impossible without aggressive grafts.

The Digital Revolution

Names like Hilton Riquieri, Geninho Thomé, and Marcelo Castellano demonstrated how scanning, 3D printing, and AI workflows are already redefining diagnostics and prosthetics.

Art, Science, and the Invisible Crack

In a session resembling detective work, Arthur Napoleão taught participants how to detect and treat microscopic cracks that silently threaten otherwise healthy teeth.

Humanity in Oncology Dentistry

Linda Pulgar moved the audience with practical guidelines for oral care in cancer patients, reminding everyone that dentistry is also an act of compassion.

Esthetic Rehabilitation Without Surprises

Thiago Baum emphasized synchronized workflows between lab and clinic to ensure predictable smile design.

The Business of Dentistry in America

Dr. Schettini himself offered a candid overview of how to open and scale a dental practice in the U.S., covering insurance models and regulatory compliance.

A Century-Old Legacy

Founded in 1917, ABO is the largest dental education network in Latin America. Its arrival in the U.S. is more than symbolic—it represents a bridge between two continents at a time when America needs at least 10,000 additional dentists to meet demand.

“This is about building pathways for professional qualification, technical upskilling, and exchange programs,” said Schettini. “We want to help integrate dentists into underserved regions where they are most needed.”

A Gala Night of Honors

The Summit concludes tonight with a Gala at the Porsche Hall in Orlando, honoring 20 professionals whose careers have left a lasting legacy in Brazilian and international dentistry.

“They are pioneers who opened doors for others to walk through,” said Dr. Celso Minervino Russo, who will preside over the ceremony.

New Chapter for Dentistry in the Americas

ABO’s arrival in Orlando signals not only an institutional milestone but also the beginning of a new era for Brazilian professionals seeking cross-border careers.

“It took 106 years for our first international office,” Schettini concluded. “Orlando is now the heart of this new era. From here, we will rewrite what it means to be a global dentist.”

Check out the presentations from Dental Summit 2025 on the ABO US channel.