The platform for better oral health in Europe is a joint
initiative of the Association for Dental Education in
Europe (ADEE), the Council of European Chief Dental
Officers (CECDO), the European Association of Den-
tal Public Health (EADPH) and the European Dental
Health Foundation (EDHF). The platform is made up
of five core member organisations and thirteen as-
sociate members, including the European College
of Gerodontology. Now under the leadership of Dr.
Georgios Taskos, the goal of the platform is to create
a common European approach towards improved
oral health education, promotion, and access to care
in Europe (http://www.oralhealthplatform.eu).
The associate members of the platform meet on a
yearly basis in Brussels where the European College
of Gerodontology is represented by its past Presi-
dent Dr. Gerry McKenna. The role of the platform
has evolved in recent times and it has refocused its
strategy towards lobbying for the inclusion of oral
health indicators in the next iteration of the EU/
OECD Health at a Glance report. This report collates
a vast range of health data across Europe, but cur-
Engaging on gerodontology
with the platform for better
oral health in Europe
rently does not include any oral health statistics. The
platform’s secretariat has made good progress on
this front, after a series of meetings with DG SANTE
officials.
The second key focus for the platform remains the
collection of best practices in oral health. However,
now there is more focus on aligning these initiatives
with those already underway at the EU Commission
level. The platform is currently drafting up a set of
criteria which will be used to assess each best prac-
tice and how it matches the output from the Joint
Action on Chronic Diseases (CHRODIS). The Platform
remains supportive of suitable examples focused on
older adults and from the European College of Gerodon-
tology.
Engaging with the platform for better oral health in
Europe remains an important focus for the European
College of Gerodontology. The platform provides an
avenue for meaningful engagement with European
policymakers in order to ensure that the oral health
of older people is prioritized.
Dr. Gerry McKenna
Past President, European College of Gerodontology
Senior Lecturer / Consultant in Restorative Dentistry
Centre for Public Health
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
DOI: 10.25241/stomaeduj.2018.5(2).news.1
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