Professor Phoebus Madianos, chair of Europerio10, talks about what we can expect at this year’s congress.
What are the highlights of Europerio10? What novelties does it bring compared to previous Europerios?
We have tried to put together the best Europerio ever. And that is not a minor challenge, considering that EuroPerio has a well-deserved reputation for being the world’s leading congress in periodontology and implant dentistry since years ago.
Today more than ever, Europerio10 wants to be a global celebration of perio after the pause of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the first time, the event brings personally together again the global community of periodontists, dentists and other oral health professionals around the world. An occasion to resume old friendships with colleagues, masters, friends. And to forge new ones.
In scientific terms, the novelties include the world premiere of the new S3-type clinical guideline for treatment of stage IV periodontitis. This is a major milestone for dental clinicians all over the world.
In connection to that session, there will be four sessions on the implementation of the previous EFP clinical guideline, on stages I-III periodontitis, which has made a major impact in improving patient care in the last year.
Also, there will be three live surgeries (in Europerio9 there was one and the attendees wanted more). These have world-class clinicians, demonstrating different techniques in mucogingival and bone-regenerative surgery.
The packed scientific programme woven by Europerio10 scientific chair David Herrera also includes more interdisciplinary sessions. These involve both other medical specialities (cardiology, endocrinology, neurology) and other dental disciplines (endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, digital dentistry).
Finally, for the first time we have designed a series of ‘tracks’ to guide attendees through the multiplicity of sessions. They help them find the most suitable to them. And for the first time sustainability will have a major role in the congress. I think that all attendees will greatly appreciate it.
The scientific program focuses on periodontology, but also addresses management and marketing. What is the value of these contents for the attendees?
Periodontology is not only about science and surgery anymore. A successful periodontal practice, just as the successful career of a periodontist, needs to take into consideration other major dimensions that also affect greatly the treatment and service provided to the patients.
Oral healthcare is evolving probably faster than ever before. Quality standards are evolving accordingly, just as the expectations and the information of the patients. Today, to be a great periodontist is not enough.
Even if the EFP has no professional agenda in the sense that it serves the general interest of the public rather than the particular interest of the professionals, it is clear today that serving the patients correctly requires to integrate marketing in the mindset of the periodontists. And EuroPerio10 could not ignore that.
The EFP and the congress organising committee are deeply committed to sustainability. How does Europerio10 reflect that?
True. Sustainability is now a key part of the EFP’s mission and underpins Europerio10 everywhere. Following last year’s launch of the the EFP’s Sustainability Manifesto, we decided to turn Europerio10 into one of the world’s most sustainable congresses.
Three examples of our sustainable goals are:
- Reducing CO2 emissions: All Europerio10 attendees receive a public-transport pass as part of their registration. This enables them to get around Copenhagen. And all speakers who needed to take a plane to attend Copenhagen will carbon-compensate their flights
- Reducing printed materials: We’ve reduced by 50% the number of printed materials – even better, all printed materials have been made from recycled paper. Also, the congress lanyards will be made from recycled PET. Most of the congress signs will be based on cardboard, which can easily be recycled. As a result, the overall waste produced by Europerio10 will be significantly reduced
- Local food: All Europerio10 coffee breaks feature only food that is sourced locally, as close to the Bella Centre as possible.
Luckily, Copenhagen is one of the most sustainable cities in the world. It has a great pubic transport system, and has committed to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital city by 2025. We take sustainability so seriously that we’ve devoted a section ‘Sustainability at Europerio10’ on our website www.efp.org.
Are we living in good times for periodontology?
I think periodontology is coming back stronger than ever. It is true that the wide use, or rather overuse, of dental implants has severely affected the standard dental practice and diminished the importance of several dental disciplines, including periodontology.
But the implant panacea has proved to be a hollow promise and the growing problem of peri-implantitis have compelled dental professionals to re-appreciate the importance of treating and maintaining teeth, as well as maintaining implants.
When implants need to be placed, the inherent fine and precise surgical skills of the periodontist in augmenting gums and bone, as well as preventing and treating periodontal and peri-implant diseases, ensure the best long-term outcome of implant therapy. Hence periodontology is taking again its place at the very core of every day dentistry.
Another game-changing breakthrough has been the ‘new’ field of periodontal medicine. For example the evidence implicating periodontitis as a potential risk factor for a number of systemic diseases and conditions; from cardiovascular disease and diabetes, to rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s.
Today, periodontology is not only about saving teeth, it is also about improving aesthetics, improving smiles and the overall health and wellbeing of patients.
How do you think that periodontology is going to evolve in the coming years?
I am not sure how periodontal practice will look exactly in 10-20 years from now. But I am convinced that the need for treating periodontally compromised teeth will increase, as well as the need of treating biological complications of implants. I also think that in the coming years the periodontal practitioner will work closer with our medical colleagues.
They will contribute to the diagnosis and management of other medical conditions through periodontal diagnosis and treatment.
At the moment, there is an enormous research activity in a wide range of fields related to periodontology, from genetics and pathogenesis, to periodontal medicine and tissue/organ regeneration. This ensures that there is a bright future for the periodontists in the years to come.
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