Prevention - the focus of this year's XI EFP European Workshop in Periodontology

The XI European Workshop in Periodontology was concluded in Spain last week with its usual exceptionally high level of scientific rigour.

From November 9 to 12, around 70 of the world's leading periodontal researchers examined the vital question of Prevention in the kind of detail that would impress the fussiest watchmakers, all leaving to head to their bases in Europe or the USA somewhat more tired than when they arrived.

Cloistered in working groups behind the thick stone walls of picturesque 18th century buildings, these experts discussed systematic reviews of key papers on the subject. Although each Workshop always ends with a certain amount of details to tie up, this intense work will be finalised and turned into headline-grabbing conclusions in the dental community and extremely useful guidelines for clinicians. As a result, periodontal science should be stronger, the EFP's knowledge base enhanced, and clinicians far better informed.

These conclusions will be made freely available in April 2015 in a special open supplement of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

"Effective Prevention of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases" was the title of this year's EFP European Workshop in Periodontology, once again held in the regal mountain village of La Granja de San Ildefonso, near Segovia.

Led by chairman Prof. Mariano Sanz, and co-chairs Profs. Iain Chapple, Maurizio Tonetti, and Soren Jepsen, the researchers worked in four working groups to elaborate a series of background evidence-based reviews and consensus reports aimed towards establishing the most appropriate methods and outcomes to be used in Prevention of periodontal and peri-implant diseases.

Specifically, the work focused on objectives in the following areas:

1) Principles in Prevention of Periodontal Diseases

2) Treatment of gingivitis as a primary preventive strategy for periodontitis.

3) Treatment of peri-implant mucositis as a primary preventive strategy for peri-implantitis.

4) Treatment of halitosis

5) Complications associated with oral preventive strategies

This 11th EFP Workshop has been sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, and Procter and Gamble, whose representatives also attended the Workshop sessions.