Paediatric dentistry as a specialty in Europe: Recognition and development

Abstract

recognition of the speciality of paediatric dentistry throughout Europe has been enshrined in the constitution of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry since it's founding in 1990. This has been considered as one of our main priorities and it was in 1998 that the Council appointed for the first time a task force from members of the EAPD Board: Constantine Oulis (President), Martin Curzon (Secretary., Goran Koch (Past President), and Luc Martens (president Elect), to coordinate all the appropriate actions towards the recognition of our specialty within Europe. In particular the goals of the Task Force were to: 1) work closely with the Academy towards the fulfilment of our goal 2) develop a document on why Paediatric Dentistry as a specialty is needed 3) develop a strategic plan which we could all follow in every country and 4) approach the relative committees of the EU; by this way to influence the recognition of dental specialties in Europe. In addition at the 4th EAPD Congress in Sardinia there was the first Workshop entitled: The need for the Specialty of Paediatric Dentistry in Europe and what EAPD has accomplished. As a result of that workforce, EAPD developed a comprehensive plan, in which all the aforementioned goals should be taken care of. This was an attempt to lobby all parts of dentistry in the EU (CommunityAcademia-Profession) and establish our specialty in the rapidly changing scene of dentistry. Parallel to that approach, every paediatric dentist should contribute towards achieving recognition of our Specialty within every European Country, as it has been well established that this brings about substantial improvements in the dental care of all children.