​The Spanish Society of Periodontology (SEPA) Foundation and Listerine join forces in a new initiative entitled ‘Principles for oral health’, an ambitious global agreement to promote periodontal health and ensure that oral healthcare professionals have access to the fundamentals of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of periodontitis.

The first project within this cooperation framework is called ‘Essentials’. It will aim to specifically reflect on the efficacy and value of antiseptics and clinically tested antibacterial mouthwashes included in the EFP S3 systematic reviews and simplify relevant conclusions about the current use of mouthwashes as well as their adjuvant role in the mechanical removal of dental plaque.

Paula Matesanz, vice president of SEPA and the project leader, said, “We must promote periodontal health with clear criteria that are easy to implement among the general population, reinforcing prevention as a daily habit while facilitating access to existing scientific evidence for oral health professionals.”

The activities to be developed will have a global impact, with a special focus on seven countries: Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil and the United States.

Soha Dattani, director and head scientific engagement for ListerineOral Care, said, “We are excited about this ambitious project and the potential it has to improve people’s oral health.”

One of the main projects is the creation of a group of global opinion leaders who will establish practical recommendations on the use of oral antiseptics to help control and manage plaque biofilm and inflammation in patients subject to supportive periodontal therapy.

The scientific leader of the initiative is David Herrera, a trustee of the SEPA Foundation and member of the ETEP Research Group, along with numerous accredited experts.

The key opinion leaders from Europe include:

  • Filippo Graziani, a professor at the University of Pisa
  • Nicola West, a professor at Bristol Dental School
  • Iain Chapple, a professor at the University of Birmingham
  • Marjolanie Gosset, president del French Society of Periodontology and Oral Implantology
  • Henrik Dommisch, a professor of periodontology at the Universitätsmedizin Berlín
  • Elena Figuero and Ana Molina, ETEP Research Group of UCM SEPA
  • Beatriz De Tapia, International University of Catalonia
  • Ricardo Fischer, representing the University of Rio de Janeiro and the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology
  • Panos Papapanou, representing the American Academy of Periodontology
  • Rhiannon Jones, from Cardiff University and the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, will also contribute

The expert consensus session will be held on April 5, 2024, at The House of Gums, a SEPA centre, located in Madrid dedicated to the promotion of periodontal, oral, and general health.

To promote collaboration and teamwork to achieve better health for the general population, the project will seek significant institutional support. As Paula said, “the collaboration with medical scientific societies and universities will also be a critical component in order for this project to become a point of reference for the dental community.”

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