Brussels, 17 April 2024. Moritz Kebschull is the new president of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), a nonprofit federation of 38 national societies for periodontology (gum diseases). In addition to its European core, the EFP, with members from Argentina to Australia, has a global agenda to promote awareness of periodontal science and the importance of gum health.
Professor Kebschull holds the Chair of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Birmingham, UK and an adjunct professorship at Columbia University, US. He succeeds Dr Darko Bozic (University of Zagreb, Croatia) as EFP president. He is a specialist periodontist trained in Germany and the United States. His award-winning translational research explores the links between the clinical features and molecular foundations of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and other systemic diseases. At Birmingham, he is running a significant portfolio of externally funded research programmes, including leading a module of the NIHR funded Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre. Having served on the boards of both the British and German national societies, and as a member of the EFP's Executive Committee for the last three years, Professor Kebschull has been driving the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of gum diseases in Europe, in the UK and in Germany. Prof Kebschull's priority during his presidency will be to further the EFP’s global impact as the largest periodontal federation world-wide by expanding its lead in guideline development in the field of dentistry; by opening pathways for educating the clinical workforce for periodontics; and by driving periodontal science by empowering young, internationally mobile researchers.
The EFP is at the forefront of the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in dentistry world-wide and can demonstrate that these guidelines have already had measurable “real world impact” for patients and practitioners alike in several major economies. Prof Kebschull and the EFP team will add to the existing portfolio of guidelines to fully cover the entire field of periodontology and focus on the national implementation of these guidelines across its global membership to further the impact for our patients.
To fully facilitate the opportunities opened up by the guidelines, the EFP recognises that in addition to a strengthened undergraduate curriculum and its prestigious specialistlevel education programmes, a “third pillar” of education is necessary to develop a clinical workforce that can treat the very significant number of patients with periodontal diseases - one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases. Specifically, as outlined in an upcoming special issue of the EFP’s Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the EFP will strengthen vocational education and training in Europe, a process of flexible life-long learning for professionals following the principles of the Bruges- Copenhagen-Process that is envisioned to lead to a high number of dental professionals with significant additional skills.
Lastly, Professor Kebschull recognises that, in order to further drive clinical impact, the promotion of high-quality research is an absolute necessity. He therefore proposes to strengthen this by fostering international mobility of promising young periodontal researchers from all EFP member countries to further push collaboration and fruitful interactions - and by enabling smart talents for the future.
“To keep improving periodontal education for students and professionals, and stimulating the progress of periodontal researchers is not only in the interest of the EFP or the dental profession," explains Prof Kebschull. “These advancements are critical for the sake of periodontal science and practice, so that current and future dental patients will be better served. I’m also honoured to serve the EFP as president, and to help advance preparations for future milestones, including EuroPerio11 in Vienna in May 2025.”
EFP, global benchmark in periodontology
The EFP (European Federation of Periodontology) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting awareness of periodontal science and the importance of gum health for oral-health professionals and the public. Its guiding vision is “Periodontal health for a better life”. Founded in 1991, the EFP is a federation of 38 national periodontal societies representing more than 16,000 periodontists, dentists, researchers, and oral-health professionals in Europe and around the world. It organises workshops, events, and campaigns grounded in evidence-based science in periodontal and oral health, including EuroPerio (the world’s leading congress in periodontology and implant dentistry), Perio Master Clinic, Gum Health Day, and Perio Workshop. The EFP’s work in education is also highly significant, notably its 24 accredited university-based programmes for postgraduate education in periodontology and implant dentistry. The EFP has no professional or commercial agenda.
