Promoting Periodontal Health in Europe

Dr. Ted Bleckstein, a Specialist in Periodontics trained in the United States, developed a new 3-year postgraduate periodontal specialty program according to the EFP vision and pursuant to their published requirements for an international periodontal program; thereby further promoting the educational unification of the EEC countries. Most recently, Dr. Bleckstein’s professional experience in contemporary periodontal program development has been directed to Europe where, as an appointed Contract Professor, he designed the first accreditable three-year postgraduate program in the dental specialty of Periodontics for the country of Italy at the University of Padova, School of Dentistry. This comprehensive Master of Science Program was prepared by Dr. Bleckstein to be in full compliance with the published objectives of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) in the required language of English. The significance of this project was the establishment of an academic and clinical program of study which will eventually enable Italy to graduate periodontal dental specialists who will be able to have their professional credentials recognized throughout the Western European Community.

Brief History of the EFP

For decades, European nations have been educating and graduating dental professionals with minimal regard for producing a graduate with a uniformly standardized level of professional education and clinical experience.  Presently, a graduate’s professional academic credentials are not universally accepted throughout the European Community.  These professional credentials have, unfortunately, been subjected to criticism by neighboring European countries because they fail to comply with the educational “standards” established by that particular country.  Problem:  Lack of standardized academic requirements and training for dental professionals in Europe limits the graduate’s ability to practice their profession throughout Europe. 

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) was established in 1987 to address the compelling need for developing a standardized “European” program of instruction for aspiring periodontal specialists in Europe.  Italy, in addition to 24 other western European countries, is a “Full Member” participant of the EFP and endorses the philosophy of this entity.  However, to date (2004), Italy has not been able to develop a standardized postgraduate program in periodontics capable of being accredited by the EFP.  Example Problem:  For the past 20 years, the dental specialty of Orthodontics haspresented the European graduate with many problems because the educational training of the student, in this specialty, does not conform to any universally accepted standards of educational objectives within Europe.  To avoid a similar problem, the EFP was created with the purpose of developing a standardized 36 month postgraduate program of instruction in Periodontics entitling the successful graduate to full professional acceptance by all 25 European member countries immediately upon graduation.

By proposing an “accreditable” 3-year postgraduate specialty program in Periodontics, the University of Padova would be the first University in Italy to have this Program under the rules of “accreditation” by the European Federation of Periodontology.  This will be an outstanding academic achievement for both the University of Padova and the Country of Italy. The Cittadella dei Denti offers an excellent clinical environment for the successful development of this new dental specialty Program. As of 2006, the Master Program in Italy continues to be a two year program.

The Postgraduate Program in the Dental Specialty of Periodontics

Ted C. Bleckstein, DDS, MS designed a postgraduate specialty program to provide a strong clinical and scientific background in Periodontics for the University of Padova (Italy) that will enable the student to treat all forms of periodontal disease on a biologically rational basis. Through Dr. Bleckstein’s program, the student will become thoroughly familiar with the periodontal literature and will receive broad clinical experiences in patient examination, diagnosis, prognosis determination, and all accepted modes of periodontal therapy and post treatment maintenance including proper clinical documentation.

Graduates of this new 36-month postgraduate program, which is still under development, will be able to: (1) Review information from the biomedical sciences and relate this information to the practice of periodontics; (2) To diagnose, treat, and maintain patients with advanced periodontal diseases utilizing current concepts in the etiology, pathogenesis, patient management, prevention and systemic implications of periodontal diseases; (3) To place dental implants in edentulous and partially edentulous jaws of patients and develop a program of dental reconstruction and maintenance; (4) To contribute to the available knowledge in the field of dentistry by means of a research project which includes a defended thesis, and a submitted manuscript for publication; (5) To communicate ethically and effectively with patients, dental colleagues and other health professionals; (6) To supervise treatment procedures by dental hygienists.

Conforming to the regulations for accreditation by the European Federation of Periodontology, the University must offer a 36 month course of study leading to the award of both a Certificate in the dental specialty of Periodontics and the Master of Science Degree in Oral Biology, recognized by the European Federation of Periodontology, to candidates who have successfully passed the final examinations, met the clinical requirements, and produced 20 fully completed patient cases and defended 8 fully documented  patient cases. Additionally, each student must have successfully defended their research thesis for the Master of Science degree.

Curriculum Overview of the Periodontal Specialty Program

The three year course of study, designed by Dr. Ted Bleckstein for the University of Padova, will consist of Didactic, Clinical, Research and Teaching components. Each student is expected to participate in seminars, case presentations, literature review and required assignments and demonstrate proficiency in the didactic oral science courses, including clinical Periodontology and Implant dentistry courses.

Students are expected to present at least 20 completed and documented cases which have been thoroughly and correctly diagnosed, treatment planned, treated and monitored with appropriate documentation for a period of at least six months following active therapy. Final photos and radiographs should be taken 4 to 6 weeks after the student’s final maintenance appointment with each patient.  These cases should exemplify a range of complexities of periodontal problems, some of which involve multi-disciplinary care including patients requiring orthodontic treatment and dental implants. Eight (8) of these cases are to be submitted to the Program Chairman (Director)  three months prior to graduation; they will be reviewed for final determination of the student’s clinical competency. Students will be required to orally defend these final case presentations.

Toward completion of these documented case reports, each student is expected to perform over 100 periodontal procedures with varying complexity and which exemplify Resective, Corrective and Inductive periodontal surgical approaches. These surgical experiences should minimally include: periodontal flap surgery, crown lengthening, gingivectomy, periodontal plastic procedures, identification of suspected intra-oral pathology with differential diagnosis and biopsy, frenectomy, soft tissue grafting, root resection, osteo-inductive and osteo-conductive “regenerative” procedures including guided tissue “regeneration” (GTR),  guided bone “regeneration” (GBR) and carbon dioxide laser in soft tissue dental surgery.

Each student is expected to have surgically placed a minimum of 10 oral implants at the end of the Program and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of both the mandibular and maxillary anatomical and osseous features affecting implant placement and prognosis.  Students are also required to conduct and present original research in the field of Periodontology under the supervision of an appointed faculty member.  This is to be supported by a final thesis suitable for publication, written in English, to be submitted at the end of the program and defended in an oral examination by a minimum of three members of the dental school faculty including the Program Chairman (Director) and a representative from the EFP.

Program Objectives of the “Accredited” Periodontal Specialty Program

Dr. Bleckstein’s  primary objective is to produce clinically proficient, scientifically oriented, analytically thinking, empathetic and ethical periodontal Graduates committed to the improvement of periodontal and dental health of the European Community. To assure this objective, Graduates must complete the required number and variety of periodontal cases to a sufficient level that: (1) periodontal health is achieved through effective treatment and communication; (2) the initiating and contributing factors in the etiology of each patient’s periodontal disease are identified and controlled; and (3) an acceptable schedule for supportive periodontal therapy is organized for the patients. 

The Educational Curriculum for the Postgraduate Master of Science Program in the Dental Specialty of Periodontics is comprised of five components:

• Periodontal Specialty Courses and Clinics
• Periodontal Interdisciplinary Courses
• Clinical Core Curriculum Courses
• Oral Biology (basic science) Courses
• Master of Science in Oral Biology Thesis and Research Project

Proposal of Master Program in Periodontology – Dr. Ted Bleckstein

Summary of Time Allocation for the 3 Year Postgraduate Master of Science Program in Periodontics

Click Here to See Summary

Standards established by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP)

 Note:  In the development of this Program for the University of Padova, Dr. Bleckstein customized the educational objectives and hours to provide both a realistic and an optimal educational and clinical experience for the postgraduate students.  These changes ultimately result in a postgraduate Program which meets the published requirements of both the European Federation of Periodontology and the American Dental Association’s Commission on Advanced Dental Educational Programs.

  Globalization of Dental Knowledge

As we expand our knowledge of dental science, today we need to apply the theme of Thomas Friedman’s popular book, The World is Flat.  This book emphasizes how political, economic, and technological forces have converged to “level” or “flatten” the world so that millions of people worldwide now have instant access to the same knowledge and information.  Modern dental health care is no longer just about teeth; it’s about our total health.  And, for our world to be healthy, advances in dental science must be available to all. 

“Our responsibilities do not end with educating our students.  We must continue to contribute to developing a healthy global society with a particular emphasis on helping to build healthy communities in other countries.”
-  Dr. Polverini, Dean; Dental School Michigan, USA

Contact Dr. Ted Bleckstein
for information regarding program development designed
for Western European Postgraduate Study in the Dental
Specialty of Periodontics

Address Inquiries to:  TBleckstein@PerioAdvantage.com