Announcing the winners of the first-ever EFP Innovation Award for digital solutions for gum health

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) has announced the winners of the first-ever EFP Innovation Award for digital solutions for gum health supported by GSK. The prize will be awarded each year to three digital innovation projects aimed at the general public, dentists and researchers that will contribute to gum health around the world.

The awards were presented at EuroPerio10, the largest world congress for periodontology and implant dentistry organized by the EFP. The “Dental Coach” app by Dr Lodewijk Gründemann and Dr Melle Vroom from Goutum, the Netherlands, won this year’s top prize of €10,000. “Dental Tracker™, a mobile application for patient, dentist and periodontics researchers” by Dr Boey Sean Kuan, Perio.Co, Singapore, received the second prize of €6,000. The third prize of €4,000 was awarded to “AI-PERIO: integration of gum health perception and periodontitis prevention on an artificial intelligence-based mobile application to combat chronic systemic inflammation Low-Grade” by Dr. Giacomo Baima and Dr. Mario Aimetti from the Postgraduate Program, University of Turin, Italy in collaboration with Anti-Inflammaging Company.

The projects were selected by a jury composed of chairs of several VET committees and a member of the main executive committee. The four criteria used to evaluate each application were the need, the market, the presentation of the idea and the business plan.

To be eligible, digital innovations had to target the public, dentists and/or researchers:

• For the public: digital technology such as apps or devices that improve periodontal health and prevent gum inflammation.
• For the Dentist: Digital technology that helps dentists diagnose or improve their patients’ gum health.
• For periodontics researchers: new numerical methods that improve the quality of gum health studies.

Periodontitis, also known as gum disease, is the most common non-communicable chronic inflammatory disease in the world and, if not treated adequately, often leads to tooth loss. Periodontitis is, however, largely preventable with good oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits to the dental team. Digital technologies have an increasing role to play in prevention and treatment and this VET award with the support of GSK aims to support innovations in this area.”

Professor Andreas Stavropoulos, President of the VET

Dr Stephen Mason, Global Medical Head: Oral Health, GSK Consumer Healthcare, said: “We have a unique opportunity to make a significant difference in eradicating preventable oral health problems for millions of people across the world. world. To do this, we need to recognize that people don’t just go online, many “live” online. That’s why GSK Consumer Healthcare is proud to be the sponsor of the new EFP Innovation Award for Digital Gum Health Solutions. Digital solutions are not only key to improving periodontal health but are also a gateway to better health every day. We are committed to VET and will never stop in our quest to find new and disruptive ways to help improve gum health around the world.