BRUSSELS: European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), in collaboration with Dentaid, recently organised Perio Workshop 2023 in La Granja, Spain, where 70 leading specialists from 22 countries held discussions on reshaping the field of periodontology education for the future students.
Aimed at redesigning periodontology education for undergraduate and postgraduate students, the workshop was presided over by David Herrera.
The event provided a platform for a dialogue among specialists from both the EFP and the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE). Founded in 1919, the EFP, a non-profit organization, promotes periodontal science and gum health awareness world over.
At the workshop, comprising four working groups, the specialists discussed various aspects of periodontal education, including learning outcomes, competences, learning methods, training, and evaluation.
The discussions focused on the evolving landscape of periodontology education since the last workshop held in 2009, including the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the undergraduate dentistry curriculum proposed by ADEE, Covid-19 pandemic impact on teaching and evaluation methods, and the recent Perio Workshops on disease classification and management.
The Journal of Clinical Periodontology, edited by the EFP, will publish a consensus paper in spring 2024, in the light of the discussions held at the workshop that will impact the periodontology and dental implant therapeutics education world over, including EFP-accredited postgraduate programmes offered by 23 universities in Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Highlighting the significance of knowledge generation and collaboration in improving oral health research and patient outcomes, Cristina Ballesteros, head of Dentaid medical department, said this workshop will help update the training of periodontics professionals, facilitate the advancement of oral health research and improve patient outcomes.
Organised annually by the EPF, Perio Workshop gathers leading periodontists to evolve consensus on emerging issues in gum health and disease.
