Moving the Event to September Did Not Change Dentsply Sirona Plans to Sit Out the 2021 International Dental Show

Even after organizers moved the event from March to September, Dentsply Sirona does not plan to change its decision to refrain from participating in the 2021 International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany.

Dentsply originally announced its plans to pull out of the event—the largest dental trade show in the world—last year prior to the IDS organizers moving the meeting back by 6 months. Dentsply Sirona officials said they are standing by their decision because they do not see solid indications that travel and other restrictions in place due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will be substantially changed by September.

Dentsply Sirona Chief Commercial Officer Walter Petersohn said in a press release that without "absolute planning certainty" the company cannot prepare to exhibit at a show the scale of IDS. The decision was also made to protect the health of customers and employees.

The decision to not exhibit at IDS include Dentsply Sirona as well as subsidiary brands VDW, MIS, and Zhermack. Petersohn said the company fully expects to be a part of the next IDS which is currently scheduled for March 2023.