SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 13, 2025 - Dentsply Sirona celebrated two decades of its Global Clinical Case Contest (GCCC), honoring dental students who demonstrated exceptional restorative dentistry skills and a growing mastery of digital workflows. The anniversary event highlighted how the company continues to invest in early-career clinicians, raising global standards in esthetic and functional dentistry through hands-on education, mentorship and modern restorative technologies.
A Milestone Year for an International Training Platform
The 20th edition of the GCCC brought together ten finalists representing eight countries and more than 300 submitted cases-a testament to the competition's international reach. In this anniversary year, Dentsply Sirona restructured the contest into two award categories, separating direct and indirect restorations for the first time. This refinement enabled more precise comparison of clinical outcomes and provided recognition to a broader range of advanced restorative submissions.
Held in Constance, Germany, the final round showcased cases from dental students across Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Germany. All restorations were completed using Dentsply Sirona materials and technologies, reinforcing the company's role in shaping digital and esthetic dentistry education.
Highlighting Global Talent: Six Winners Across Two Restorative Categories
The updated two-category format resulted in six winners who demonstrated both technical mastery and patient-centered esthetic judgment.
In direct restorations:
- First place: Sofiia Grindenko (Russian University of Medicine, Moscow)
- Second place: Yiting Chen (Capital Medical University, Beijing)
- Third place: Ying Cheng Lu (Nation Cheng Kung University, Taiwan)
In indirect restorations using CAD/CAM technology:
- First place: Chuttaporn Dejdumrongwood (Chiang Mai University, Thailand)
- Second place: Beatrice Julia Popescu (Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany)
- Third place: Chang Guo (Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China)
These students presented anterior and posterior restorations addressing fractures, esthetic rehabilitation, congenital tooth variation and caries-related complexities-cases that mirror real-world clinical challenges.
Elevating Standards Through Modern Materials and Digital Workflows
The GCCC jury, composed of internationally recognized clinicians and academics, emphasized the consistently high standard of submissions. Dr. Britta Hahn noted the precision and proficiency demonstrated across both categories, stating that the finalists showed how CAD/CAM technologies and advanced composites can meaningfully elevate patient outcomes.
Students also benefited from strong university guidance, with several tutors returning after mentoring finalists in prior years. This continuity demonstrates how the contest fosters long-term engagement among educators who champion digital dentistry and clinical excellence.
Advancing the Next Generation of Clinical Leaders
Beyond recognizing student achievement, the GCCC supports Dentsply Sirona's broader mission to strengthen clinical confidence and expand access to world-class training tools. Prof. Rainer Seemann emphasized this long-term commitment, saying: "The Global Clinical Case Contest is an important part of our efforts in supporting young dental professionals early in their careers. We aim to give future dentists confidence in using modern technology and enable them to deliver the best possible care right from the start of their clinical journey. We collaborate with universities around the world to develop innovative training programs to ensure the next generation remains at the forefront of research and clinical practice. This dental student case contest emphasizes Dentsply Sirona's commitment to transforming dentistry and helping dental professionals move forward with confidence."
Students echoed the competition's influence on their professional development, describing the event as a motivator to refine their clinical skills and advance esthetic dentistry standards within their future practices.
Strategic Relevance for Dental Faculties and Technology Providers
For academic institutions, the GCCC offers a structured pathway to introduce digital dentistry workflows, CAD/CAM systems and evidence-based restorative techniques. For technology providers and dental practices, the contest showcases how students trained in modern systems become early adopters-supporting smoother transitions to digital solutions and strengthening clinical consistency.
The contest also serves as a real-world benchmark for restorative material performance and workflow integration, helping universities and clinics evaluate best practices for direct and indirect esthetic procedures.
Learn More
Further information on contest participation, requirements and global case portfolios is available at:
https://www.dentsplysirona.com/gccc