On 14 November, the General Assembly of the Council of European Dentists (CED) took place and elected the new board for the 2025–2028 term. During this process, the President of the Portuguese Dental Association (OMD), Miguel Pavão, was reappointed to lead the European body.
For Miguel Pavão, his re-election represents “a vote of confidence” in the work carried out since 2022, when he was first elected. He emphasised that this new term will be an opportunity to keep key topics for Portuguese dentists on the European agenda, including the future of dentistry, the integration of oral health into wider health policies, and the specific challenges facing the profession.
Among the priorities outlined for the coming years are:
- The quality of dental education and training
- The oversupply of professionals in the field
- The commercialisation of the profession
- Ensuring access to high-quality oral care for the population
During the meeting in Brussels, participants also discussed two central issues for the sustainability of oral health in Europe. One of the main topics was the PRUDENT project (“Priority, incentives and resource utilisation for sustainable dentistry”), which proposes a preventive and efficient approach to financing oral healthcare. According to those present, preventive dentistry — focused on oral disease — can be a key ally in promoting healthy ageing and controlling long-term healthcare costs.
Another highlighted topic was the European Commission’s initiative “The Union of Skills”, aimed at facilitating the mobility of healthcare professionals within the European area. The proposal includes measures to simplify the recognition of qualifications obtained outside the EU and to foster partnerships that attract dentists to regions facing workforce shortages.
During the session, the CED’s working groups also presented their reports:
- The “Education and Professional Qualifications” group, in which the OMD is represented by Vice-President Maria João Ponces, provided an assessment of the current training landscape.
- The Oral Health group approved a White Paper on ageing and oral health, reinforcing the importance of sustainable policies for the future.
Additionally, the CED approved a statement defending medical neutrality and the protection of healthcare professionals in conflict zones, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to ethical and social values.
