/home/opencode/cpanel/stomaeduj_hacked/uploads/2018/02/News_5_2_1.pdf Engaging on gerodontology News with the platform for better oral health in Europe The platform for better oral health in Europe is a joint rently does not include any oral health statistics. The initiative of the Association for Dental Education in platform’s secretariat has made good progress on Europe (ADEE), the Council of European Chief Dental this front, after a series of meetings with DG SANTE Officers (CECDO), the European Association of Den- officials. tal Public Health (EADPH) and the European Dental The second key focus for the platform remains the Health Foundation (EDHF). The platform is made up collection of best practices in oral health. However, of five core member organisations and thirteen as- now there is more focus on aligning these initiatives sociate members, including the European College with those already underway at the EU Commission of Gerodontology. Now under the leadership of Dr. level. The platform is currently drafting up a set of Georgios Taskos, the goal of the platform is to create criteria which will be used to assess each best prac- a common European approach towards improved tice and how it matches the output from the Joint oral health education, promotion, and access to care Action on Chronic Diseases (CHRODIS). The Platform in Europe (http://www.oralhealthplatform.eu). remains supportive of suitable examples focused on The associate members of the platform meet on a older adults and from the European College of Gerodon- yearly basis in Brussels where the European College tology. of Gerodontology is represented by its past Presi- Engaging with the platform for better oral health in dent Dr. Gerry McKenna. The role of the platform Europe remains an important focus for the European has evolved in recent times and it has refocused its College of Gerodontology. The platform provides an strategy towards lobbying for the inclusion of oral avenue for meaningful engagement with European health indicators in the next iteration of the EU/ policymakers in order to ensure that the oral health OECD Health at a Glance report. This report collates of older people is prioritized. a vast range of health data across Europe, but cur- Dr. Gerry McKenna Past President, European College of Gerodontology Senior Lecturer / Consultant in Restorative Dentistry Centre for Public Health Queen’s University Belfast Belfast BT7 1NN, UK DOI: 10.25241/stomaeduj.2018.5(2).news.1 Stomatology Edu Journal 77