European dentists develop new recommendations on ageing and oral health, the use of protective devices to prevent orofacial injuries, and the protection of healthcare professionals in conflict zones, aiming to improve oral health in older adults, promote safer sports environments, and strengthen medical neutrality across Europe.

On 14 November 2025, the Council of European Dentists (CED) Member and Affiliate Member associations met in Brussels, Belgium for their biannual General Meeting under the chairmanship of CED President Dr. Freddie Sloth-Lisbjerg.

Professor Chris Vernazza from the School of Dental Sciences of Newcastle University and partner of the EU Horizon Europe-funded PRUDENT project (Prioritisation, incentives and Resource use for sUstainable DENTistry) on oral health financing, contributed to the meeting with a presentation on PRUDENT. The project seeks to address gaps between research, policy, and practice in oral health financing by developing an innovative and context-adaptive framework.

The General Meeting was also addressed by the European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA), represented by President Saulė Skinkytė and Vice President for External Affairs Eliška Jandová who provided an overview of the newly elected EDSA Board, EDSA’s annual objectives and key activities for this year’s mandate.

The November General Meeting conducted the 2025 Board elections. Following the outcome of the session, CED delegates re-elected Charlotte Heuzé from the French Dental Association, Miguel Pavão from Portuguese Dental Association and Katalin Nagyfrom the Hungarian Dental Association for a three-year mandate, and elected Christof Ruda from the Austrian Dental Association as Treasurer. The newly elected Treasurer Christof Ruda will begin his first term on the CED Board following the General Meeting.

The General Meeting was also updated on the work of CED Working Groups and Task Forces, which followed with the adoption of 3 policy documents:

• CED White Paper on Ageing and Oral Health, available here.

The White Paper calls policymakers and Commission officials to develop an oral health strategy for healthy ageing, and to redouble efforts on education, training and working conditions of the healthcare workforce dealing with the older population. This activity aligns with ongoing EU-level efforts to address the needs of an ageing society, including recent high-level discussions and policy developments across Member States.

• CED Recommendation on Custom-Made Athletic Mouthguards available here.

The Recommendation paper highlights the importance of preventive measures to reduce the risk of orofacial injuries in sports. While athletic activities offer significant health benefits, they also increase exposure to traumatic dentofacial injuries, particularly in high-contact disciplines. Custom-made mouthguards and preventive oral care programs play a key role in protecting athletes by reducing the impact of trauma. Their wider adoption requires shared responsibility among athletes, coaches, parents, sports organizations, and dental professionals.

• CED Statement on Violations of Medical Neutrality and Protection of Healthcare Professionals in Conflict Zones, available here.

The Statement brings together the EU community of dental professionals to stand in solidarity with all healthcare professionals, humanitarian workers and victims of war and armed conflicts. It condemns the deliberate targeting of medical and dental professionals and health facilities in all areas of the world.