European dentists offer solutions to workforce challenges, warn against threats to the supply of dental medical devices in the EU, call for an immediate update of the Professional Qualifications Directive and oppose the so-called simplified recognition procedures of non-EU dental qualifications.

On 18 November 2022, the Council of European Dentists (CED) Member, Affiliate Member and Observer associations met in Brussels, Belgium, for their biannual General Meeting under the chairmanship of CED President Dr. Freddie Sloth-Lisbjerg.

Results of CED elections

During the plenary session, the CED members were invited to vote for a new Treasurer and three new Board Directors for the term 2022-2025. Dr. Ioannis Tzoutzas (Greece) was elected as Treasurer. Dr. Charlotte Heuze (France), Dr. Katalin Nagy (Hungary) and Dr. Miguel Pavão (Portugal) were elected as Directors. They join the current CED President Dr. Freddie Sloth-Lisbjerg (Denmark), Vice-President Dr. Anna Lella (Poland) and Directors Dr. Henner Bunke (Germany) and Dr. Robin Foyle (Ireland). The new CED Board assumed its powers on 19 November.

Workforce challenges for dentistry

CED adopted a White Paper on workforce challenges for dentistry, pointing out the need for action aimed at ensuring a balanced distribution of dental professionals and high-quality oral health care for patients across Europe. Workforce planning is needed to address the imbalance of dental professionals’ distribution between and within European countries and to avoid the creation of medical deserts. High-quality education of dentists is crucial for resolving workforce problems and it is imperative that educational systems contribute to restoring the balance by training the proper number of dental professionals that each country requires. Future dentists must be fully equipped not only with the knowledge and skillset for providing high-quality oral health care but also with the right eSkills, as well as expertise in dental practice management, administration and legal matters. While there is increased pressure towards more delegation and task shifting in dentistry, including by the World Health Organization (WHO) in their global oral health strategy, European dentists agree that the dentist should remain the leader of the dental team. The dentist may delegate tasks, under their direct supervision, to other suitably trained team members. General and oral health prevention should be prioritised and promoted within national healthcare systems, ensuring a reduction of costs, reducing the burden of disease and improving public health as a whole.

CED White paper on workforce challenges for dentistry

Implementation of Medical Devices Regulation

CED expressed deep concern at the delays in implementation of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) 2017/745, particularly in re-certification of medical devices resulting from the lack of Notified Bodies responsible for certification. As part of the implementation of the new Regulation, all medical devices on the market must be re-certified by May 2024 at the latest. Without this re-certification, medical devices, even if they are safe and proven medical devices, may not be placed on the market after that date. CED warned that, unless the legislator makes urgently needed corrections, the supply of dental medical products will be jeopardized and patients will no longer be able to receive dental care in the tried and tested form. According to surveys from the dental industry, at least for individual companies, up to 35% of the dental product range could be withdrawn from the market. The CED, therefore, calls on the European Commission and competent national ministries of health to accelerate the designation and increase the number of Notified Bodies, keep medical devices that are proven to be safe on the market or consider extending transition periods under the Medical Devices Regulation.

CED Statement on implementation of Medical Devices Regulation

Point 5.3.1 of Annex V to the Professional Qualifications Directive remains obsolete and may soon put patients at risk.

CED delegates noted the publication of the report on “Mapping and assessment of developments for sectoral professions under Directive 2005/36/EC – the profession of dental practitioner” carried out by Spark Legal Network for the European Commission. European dentists have been calling for an update of the list of study subjects contained in the Annex V.3/5.3.1 of the Professional Qualifications Directive for many years and now express their disappointment at the results of the study which do not take into account all recommendations put forward by the CED in their Resolution of November 2020. Annex V is clearly obsolete; it does not use the correct terminology and it does not reflect the concrete skills, competences and knowledge required to keep abreast with the ever-increasing demands of dentistry and oral health care in modern European societies. European dentists, therefore, call on the European Commission to immediately update Annex V.3/5.3.1 of the Professional Qualifications Directive, at least in line with CED proposals. As a minimum, the update of the subjects listed would ensure more up-to-date relevance to current dental education. Failing to act now by the European Commission jeopardizes the quality of up-to-date dental education and may soon put patients at risk.

Revised CED Resolution on Annex V.3/5.3.1 of Directive 2005/36/EC (PQD)

Recognition of non-EU dental qualifications

Following reports about legal regulations and administrative procedures in some EU Member States regarding access to the profession of dentists with qualifications obtained outside the EU, CED delegates adopted a statement emphasising that in every case there has to be a recognition procedure carried out which is complete and allows to determine that the qualifications of the dentist are in accordance with the applicable EU requirements.

CED Statement on recognition of dental qualifications

The Council of European Dentists (CED) is a European not-for-profit association which represents over 340,000 practising dentists through 33 national dental associations and chambers from 31 European countries. Its key objectives are to promote high standards of oral healthcare and effective patient-safety centred professional practice across Europe, including through regular contacts with other European organisations and EU institutions.