Huib Kalsbeek, born in Katwijk in 1937, died in Katwijk on July 11 at the age of 85. He dedicated his working life to healthy teeth for everyone. On the one hand, by conducting very meticulous epidemiological research, and on the other hand, by fulfilling functions at the Ivory Cross for many years. Huib Kalsbeek was a member of the executive board of the Ivory Cross from 1981 to 1989 and a member of the Advisory Board for the Prevention of Oral and Dental Diseases from 1988 to 2006.

In 2014, Huib Kalsbeek published a book that was valuable to the Ivory Cross: 'A clean tooth does not decay. Ivory Cross 1910-2010'. In this book, Huib Kalsbeek describes the history of the Ivory Cross in detail and in a very readable manner. Partly for this book, Huib Kalsbeek received the Dr. Carl Witthaus Medal, an important award of the Ivory Cross. In an interview following this issue, Huib said: “The book is about the history of the Ivory Cross, but also about the history of preventive and social dentistry.” And that was exactly where his dental heart lay and to which he made such a major contribution.

Huib Kalsbeek started the Children's Dental Care Project in Tiel in 1969. The aim of the project was to determine the effect of dental health information and education (TGVO) in collaboration between oral care and the child health clinic on the dental health of preschoolers. In 1972, a center for children's dental care was opened in Tiel as part of this project. The approach was revolutionary and without exaggeration it can be said that 'Gewoon Gaaf' was already being practiced there. All Utrecht dental students at that time had to make a mandatory working visit to this center. After the work in Tiel, Huib went to work at TNO Prevention and Health. He later headed this research group. In the period from 1987 to 2017, this research group regularly conducted unique research into the dental condition of young health insurance policyholders. He also conducted research into the dental care of adults.

Huib's contribution to the Advisory Board for Prevention of Oral and Dental Diseases always guaranteed a good scientific level of advice. His knowledge of epidemiology was indispensable. But he also had an eye for what is now called “sustainable oral care” and doubted whether it was responsible to recommend an electric toothbrush given the limited added value and environmental impact of the electricity and batteries used.

The period that Huib was on the board of the Ivory Cross was a turbulent period of reorganization, during which the ministry became increasingly critical. Here too, Huib's conscientiousness, his perseverance and his loyalty to preventive care were an important support for the association.

We wish Huib's family and other loved ones a lot of strength with Huib's death.