Annual Congress 2025
On Saturday April 12th we celebrated the 115th anniversary of the Ivory Cross at ACTA in Amsterdam! Under the title Caries a disease! was a day full of insights into oral health and the approach to caries. As keynote speaker Prof. dr. Rodrigo A. Giacaman Sarah came over from Chile.
You can read a report of this day below.
On Saturday April 12th we celebrated the 115th anniversary of the Ivory Cross at ACTA in Amsterdam! Under the title Caries a disease! was a day full of insights into oral health and the approach to caries. As keynote speaker Prof. dr. Rodrigo A. Giacaman Sarah came over from Chile.
You can read a report of this day below.
During this anniversary conference, the historical aspect was discussed, we look at how things are going now and look together at what is needed in the (near) future. Ideally, the Ivory Cross will no longer be needed in the future, because: then everyone will have a healthy mouth!
The General Meeting of the Ivory Cross preceded this. Read the draft report of this AGM.
Below is a summary of the key events and presentations during the conference.
Prof. Dr. Albert Feilzer: Looking back at 115 years of Ivory Cross
Albert Feilzer, chairman of the Ivory Cross, warmly welcomes everyone to this anniversary conference.
He looks back on 115 years of dedication to oral health. Around 1910, when 70% of the Dutch lived in poverty, the Ivory Cross was founded to combat tooth decay. Education began in primary schools in Rotterdam.
After the war, oral health deteriorated due to sugar consumption and a shortage of dentists. Improvements began in the 1960s: dental hygienists were trained, and the Ivory Cross grew, thanks in part to government support. In the 1970s, research into water fluoridation (the Tiel-Culemborg study) and the establishment of a scientific advisory board followed.
Projects such as Keep Your Mouth Healthy took shape. 6,200 cleaning packages are distributed annually and 30 classes receive daily cleaning lessons – thanks in part to many volunteers.
The Ivory Cross has achieved a lot, but caries is increasing again. Behavioral change helps, but is not enough. That is why the Ivory Cross also strives for recognition as a patient association, in addition to its scientific role.
Em. Prof. dr Cor van Loveren: Review of developments in fluoride advice.
Cor van Loveren, first special professor and honorary member of the Ivory Cross, tells the history of fluoride counseling. In the 1920s, fruit was praised as “great medicine” – and people were already flossing back then, with silk thread.
In 1947, the famous Tiel-Culemborg study began: Tiel got fluoride in its drinking water, Culemborg did not. The results proved the usefulness of fluoride, but also led to social resistance. Nevertheless, in 1970, almost every schoolchild and almost every soldier had caries.
In 1975 the National Fluoride Advice followed: safe and effective, with fluoride tablets for young children. Toothpastes for toddlers did not contain fluoride at that time. Only later was toddler toothpaste with 250 ppm fluoride recommended, and in 1998 increased to 550–750 ppm.
However, further improvement in oral health failed to materialise. Since 2009, programmes such as Gewoon Gaaf and Healthy Toddler Mouths have focused on better self-care and, where necessary, intensive guidance.
The questions for now: Do the recommendations tie in with everyday practice? Does the healthcare system sufficiently stimulate self-care? These are questions that this conference aims to help answer.
Onno Hofman: Guideline: remove incentive for independent thinking or anchor for protocol-based work?
Onno Hofman, honorary member and former chairman of the Ivory Cross, makes the audience think about guidelines in oral care. Everyone agrees: guidelines are necessary for professional conduct. But when do you follow them completely – and when do you deviate? Guidelines are not laws, but tools to make good choices within legislation and regulations. There are already 44 guidelines and various recommendations. It is important to record considerations in the patient file, preferably with explanation – not just with codes. The conference theme 'Caries is a disease!' takes on an extra dimension: caries is also linked to social factors. Think of neglect, but also domestic violence. Dental care providers also bear responsibility here: follow the Reporting Code if necessary. Finally: do not let over-declaration undermine the prevention policy. The professional group must continue to improve itself – a task also for consulting dentists.
In advance, Onno Hofman explains the gift that all speakers at this conference will receive, which was specially made and signed for this occasion by artist Jeroen Henneman.
Ellen Bol: The practice of the dental hygienist through the years
Ellen Bol, recently awarded a royal distinction, gives a rapid overview of the development of the dental hygienist. From 'assistant to the dentist' the profession grew to an independent healthcare professional. As early as 1967 Dekker emphasized that dental hygienists had to be able to make connections between observation, knowledge and patient care. The first training started in 1968 with five students; prevention and self-care were central. In 1974 the profession was legally recognized. Where dental hygienists initially worked under supervision, the independence grew: from working on referral to authorization for local anesthesia (1997) and simple treatments and diagnostics (2006). The approach also changed: from classic brushing instructions to motivational interviewing and a broader view of the person behind the mouth. Dental hygienists now increasingly work together in integrated care teams, outside the boundaries of the dental practice.
Prof. Dr Rodrigo Giacaman: Dentists at Home; Preventing Caries from an Early Age
Prof. Dr Rodrigo Giacaman: Beyond a Simple Fluid: How Saliva Reflects Diet and Caries Risk. Prof. Rodrigo Giacaman.
Rodrigo Giacaman, professor from Chile, shares impressive results of the project Early Smiles. In Chile, home visits to parents of young children led to a significant reduction in caries: 73% fewer cases and 82% fewer affected teeth in 2-year-olds. Why is this important? Early Childhood Caries is the most common non-communicable disease worldwide, with 510 million cases, especially among vulnerable populations. Early childhood caries is painful, affects quality of life and increases the risk of dental problems later in life. During the home visits, healthcare professionals provided advice on nutrition and oral care, combined with motivational interviewingThe approach proved particularly effective in very young children and has the potential for lasting behavioral change.
The second lecture by Rodrigo Giacaman (after the break) was about saliva as a predictor of caries risk. His research shows that saliva shows what someone has eaten and how sensitive they are to caries. Sugar causes acid formation and demineralization via the biofilm, but saliva can counteract this - especially when there is sufficient quantity. A study looked at the composition of saliva in people with a lot and a little caries. What did it show? People with a lot of caries had more phosphate and considerably less IgA in their saliva. IgA therefore seems to be a possible biomarker. Nutrition also plays a role: animal protein protects, carbohydrate-rich food increases the risk, fat has hardly any effect. In short: what you eat also counts for your oral health.
After the lunch break there were two pitches from partners of the Ivory Cross: Haleon about the Dental Health Barometer and KNMT about the Dental Growth Booklet.
- Download presentation about the Dental Health Barometer
- Download presentation about KNMT Dental Growth Booklet
Uilkje van der Schaaf: Oral care in community nursing: Case report on a client with diabetes and an unhealthy mouth
Uilkje van der Schaaf, a community nurse with a passion for oral care, emphasises the importance of collaboration between healthcare disciplines. She won a prize for De Mondzorgbox! and is committed to making oral care a permanent part of care plans. She tells about a client with diabetes and poorly fitting dentures. Due to her paralysis, the lady was dependent on home care. After adjusting her dentures, her appetite improved and her blood sugar stabilized. Thanks to Uilkje's additional training, district nurses now pay more attention to oral care - also during intakes. More and more clients are finding their way back to the dentist. Oral health deserves a structural place in integrated care.
Dr. Annemarie Schuller & Helma Ario Soeriowardojo: GigaGaaf-to-go!, research and implementation in Flevoland
Annemarie Schuller and Helma Ario Soeriowardojo talk about the project Gigagaaf to go!, a follow-up to the ZonMw project Gigagaaf from 2014. Objective: better cooperation between consultation centres and dental care providers to improve the oral health of young children. A pilot implementation is underway in Flevoland. There is a great need for good information and dental care providers who want to treat young children. The implementation requires a lot of effort, especially when there are staff changes. Nevertheless, the project is growing: more and more municipalities are participating and expansion is underway. Information is available via the Ivory Cross website: Programs – GigaGaaf-to-go!.
Dr. Wil van der Sanden: Isn't science just an opinion?
Wil van der Sanden, chairman of the scientific advisory board, states that science often revolves around interpretation. For example, hands-free calling in the car is permitted, while research shows that it is just as distracting as handheld calling. Data can therefore be interpreted differently. Advice also varies on caries prevention. Why recommend 1000 ppm fluoride if 500 ppm is sufficient? And how do you measure a 'grain of rice' of toothpaste? The advisory board opted for a clear, risk-driven advice - based on a Cochrane review - with self-care as the starting point. Additional measures are proposed for caries, but a one-size-fits-all approach is not realistic. Wil also showed the updated Advice on Caries Prevention. Read more about the revision of the Caries Prevention Advice on the Ivory Cross website
During the break and lunch, visitors could visit the Ivory Cross's partners and affiliated organizations: Haleon (Sensodyne/Paradontax), Colgate (elmex), Solventum, KNMT, NVM, NVVK, VMBZ, and NVM. There was also an Ivory Cross booth—also featuring the Adopt a Smile project—staffed by members of the Ivory Cross Student Committee.
The Ivory Cross looks back with satisfaction on the anniversary conference. How wonderful it is to work together as healthcare professionals on the motto: a healthy mouth for everyone! And that is even more possible, working together from different professions. Our great thanks to the speakers, the partners and the conference visitors for this inspiring day
Partners in prevention:
Annual Congress 2024
On Saturday, April 20, 2024, the 2024 Annual Congress of the Ivory Cross took place, with the central theme being the 10-year celebration of Gewoon Gaaf, a caries prevention method.
click here for the report of the Ivory Cross Annual Report 2024
The Ivory Cross Annual Report 2023 is also still available. Click herer for the report of the 2023 Annual Congress.