The EFP (European Federation of Periodontology) is a global non-profit organisation with a European core that promotes periodontal science and practice, and awareness of oral health and gum disease. Its vision is “Better oral health for all”.
Founded in 1991, the EFP brings together 47 national scientific periodontal societies, representing more than 18,000 oral-health professionals and researchers across six continents. It leads the global conversation on periodontal science and clinical guidelines, working to embed periodontal health into mainstream healthcare as a vital part of general wellbeing.
The EFP also investigates the socio-economic impact of periodontitis to guide strategies for tackling oral-health inequalities, and it is committed to a vision of responsible periodontology.
The Federation pursues its mission by organising evidence-based scientific events and public-health campaigns, including: EuroPerio (the world’s leading congress in periodontology and implant dentistry), Perio Master Clinic (a theme-based, hands-on conference), Perio Workshop (a high-level scientific meeting), and Gum Health Day (a global awareness initiative held annually on 12 May). Through the Journal of Clinical PeriodontologyWeb of Science journal info
https://wos-journal.info/journalid/541, the EFP disseminates the latest research findings, helping to translate evidence into practice.
Additionally, it develops clinical-practice guidelines to provide evidence-based treatment pathways for periodontitis and peri-implant diseases, supporting oral-healthcare professionals worldwide.
The EFP also plays a strategic role in shaping professional education and policy. It defines and promotes high-quality training in periodontology and implant dentistry at all educational levels, and advocates for pan-European recognition of periodontology as a dental speciality.Sanz M, van der Velden U, van Steenberghe D, Baehni P. Periodontology as a recognized Dental Speciality in Europe. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 33: 371-375, 2006
It is supported by industry partners but operates without commercial agenda, reinforcing its role as a trusted authority in oral health. Strategic vision and goals The EFP’s guiding vision of “Better oral health for all” was adopted in 2025.” The vision is encapsulated in the strategic plan for 2026-2030, which aims to establish periodontal health as a cornerstone of global healthcare, ensuring better oral health for all, and which lays the groundwork for sustained progress, ensuring that oral health remains a priority in scientific research, professional education, and public health initiatives.
The federation seeks to serve both the professional periodontal and dentistry sector as well as patients and the public.
In seeking to fulfil its strategic vision, the EFP has set out four strategic priorities or "pillars":
Scientific excellence: strengthening research initiatives, advancing clinical guidelines, and fostering global collaboration to support innovation in periodontology. Enhancing and innovating periodontal education: expanding educational programmes, raising certification standards, and developing new learning platforms to equip professionals for the challenges ahead. Strengthening policy influence and raising public awareness: positioning periodontal health as a critical element of systemic health, engaging policymakers, and increasing visibility through public campaigns. Internal growth and sustainability: ensuring financial sustainability, enhancing governance, and fostering stronger engagement with national societies and international partners.
History of the EFP The origins of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) date back to a conversation in 1985 between Dr Jean-Louis Giovannoli (France) and Professor Ubele van der Velden (the Netherlands). The concept of a united and co-operative body of European societies of periodontology emerged from this conversation. Subsequent discussions and meetings, over the following six years, led to the formation of the Federation.
The European Federation of Periodontology was formally created at a meeting on 12–13 December 1991 in Amsterdam at which the federation’s objectives were adopted and its constitution and by-laws were approved. The newly formed EFP comprised the national societies of periodontology of 11 European countries: the Belgian, British, Dutch, French, German, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Swiss societies.Kamma J. A chronological history of the European Federation of Periodontology. A New Era of Relationship with European Periodontology. European Federation of Periodontology, 2006.
The EFP’s first scientific congress, called EuroPerio1, was held at EuroDisney in Paris, France, on 12–15 May 1994. Since then, a further nine editions of the EuroPerio congress have been held.
The first European Workshop on Periodontology (later rebranded as Perio Workshop) was held in February 1993 in Ittingen Charterhouse, Thurgau, Switzerland, focused on “the clinical practice of periodontology”. A further 17 such workshops have since been held, some in partnership with other organisations.
In 1998, the EFP gave its first accreditation to a postgraduate programme in periodontology, to the Academic Centre of Dentistry (ACTA) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, soon followed by the University of Bern in Switzerland. By 2023 the number of accredited programmes stood at 23 in 15 countries.
The EFP’s flagship publication is the Journal of Clinical Periodontology which has been published since 1974 and which became the official journal of the federation in December 1993. The publisher of the Journal since 2008 has been Wiley Online Library.
The EFP organises, with its national-society members, an annual periodontal-health awareness day held on May 12. Launched in 2014 as the European Day of Periodontology, this awareness day subsequently evolved into Gum Health Day, which aims to be a global event that raises the visibility of periodontology and gum health among the public.
Since 2017, the EFP has run workshops and awareness campaigns in conjunction with its commercial partners. The first of these focused on oral health and pregnancy and subsequent campaigns have covered the links between periodontal disease and caries, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and the collaboration between periodontists and family doctors.
In November 2017, the EFP and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) joined forces at the World Workshop on Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions in Chicago, USA, to draw up a new classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions. Subsequently, the EFP has encouraged clinicians to adopt the new classification and created three S3-level clinical practices guideline on the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implant diseases and conditions in accordance with the new classification.Special Issue: Proceedings of the World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. Co-edited by Kenneth S. Kornman and Maurizio S. Tonetti. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Volume 45, issue S20 (June 2018).Special Issue: Treatment of Stage I-III Periodontitis. The EFP S3 Level Clinical Practice Guideline. Co-edited by David Herrera González, Mariano Sanz, and Maurizio S. Tonetti. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Volume 47, issue S22 (July 2020).
At its general assembly in October 2020, the EFP launched its Sustainability Manifesto, which commits the federation to ensuring that sustainability is at the heart of all its activities. This was followed by the launch in October 2022 of Responsible Periodontology, a logo that expresses the EFP’s commitment that its activities – promoting disease prevention and healthy lifestyles, educational programmes, and campaigns – are carried out with ethics, respect, and ensuring that all voices count.EFP Sustainability Manifesto, https://www.efp.org/fileadmin/uploads/efp/Documents/KEY_EFP_SUSTAINABILITY_ACTIONS.pdf
In May 2020, in response to the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, the EFP published a Covid-19 safety protocol for dental practices.EFP Covid-19 safety protocol, https://www.efp.org/fileadmin/uploads/efp/Documents/covid19SafetyProtocol.pdf
Purpose of the EFP The prime purpose of the EFP is the promotion of periodontology and, more generally, periodontal and general health both in Europe and worldwide by means of research, education, and the further development of periodontal science.EFP By-Laws
EFP member societies The EFP has three categories of membership: full members, associate members, and international associate members. New members are accepted at the federation’s annual general assembly, usually held in March or April.
Full members: Austrian Society of Periodontology, Azerbaijani Society of Periodontology, Belgian Society of Periodontology, British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, Croatian Society of Periodontology, Czech Society of Periodontology, Danish Society of Periodontology, Dutch Society of Periodontology, Finnish Society of Periodontology, French Society of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, German Society of Periodontology, Georgian Association of Periodontology, Hellenic Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, Hungarian Society of Periodontology, Irish Society of Periodontology, Israeli Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration, Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology, Lithuanian Association of Periodontology, Norwegian Society of Periodontology, Polish Society of Periodontology, Portuguese Society of Periodontology and Implantology, Romanian Society of Periodontology, Serbian Society of Periodontology, Slovenian Society of Periodontology, Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration, Swedish Society of Periodontology and Implantology, Swiss Society of Periodontology, Turkish Society of Periodontology.
Associate members:Armenian Periodontists Association, Bulgarian Society of Periodontology, Russian Periodontal Association..
International associate members: Argentinian Society of Periodontology, Australian Society of Periodontology, Brazilian Society of Periodontology, Colombian Association of Periodontology and Osseointegration, Lebanese Society of Periodontology, Malaysian Society of Periodontology, Mexican Association of Periodontology, Moroccan Society of Periodontology and Implantology, Panamanian Society of Periodontology, Periodontists' Association of Nigeria, Philippine Society of Periodontology, Peruvian Association of Periodontology and Osseointegration, Saudi Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, Society of Periodontology Singapore, Taiwan Academy of Periodontology, Uruguayan Society of Periodontology.
EuroPerio congress The triennial EuroPerio congress is the most important event organised by the EFP and one of the world’s biggest meetings in the field of periodontology. The most recent edition – EuroPerio11 in Vienna (2025) – attracted more than 10,000 attendees from 107 countries and featured hundreds of scientific presentations and also included live video transmissions of periodontal surgery.
After EuroPerio1 in 1994, a tfurther 10 editions of the EuroPerio congress have been held. EuroPerio10 was due to be held in June 2021 but, because of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, was postponed until June 2022. Each EuroPerio congress is organised by an organising committee – selected at an EFP general assembly – which comprises a chair, a scientific chair, and a treasurer as well as other members including representatives of the EFP-affiliated society in the country that hosts the congress. Since EuroPerio7 in Vienna in 2012, the EFP has used the services of professional conference organiser Mondial Congress & Events to help organise the EuroPerio congresses.
The full list of EuroPerio congresses, with their chairs and scientific chairs is: