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Annual Congress
ANNUAL CONGRESS OF IVORY CROSS 2024 – 10 YEARS OF SIMPLY GREAT
The Annual Congress of the Ivory Cross took place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, with the central theme being the 10-year celebration of Gewoon Gaaf, a caries prevention method. The conference, held in the Juliana Conference Hall of the Jaarbeurs Utrecht, offered an extensive program with various speakers who shared important insights about oral health and prevention. Below is a summary of the most important events and presentations during the conference.
Presentation of Carl Witthaus medals
During the conference, several Carl Witthaus medals were awarded in recognition of special merits. Thèron Vellema received a medal for his initiative to set up a student committee within the Ivory Cross, so that the mission of the organization is also shared and propagated by students. In addition, the founders of the Gewoon Gaaf method, Jette and Mauri Erik Christina Christiansen, Erik Vermaire and Mariëlle Nap, were also honored with this prestigious medal.
Jaap Seidell: Nutrition and oral health
Jaap Seidell's lecture provided an in-depth insight into the intertwined relationship between nutrition, oral health and general health. In addition to the importance of avoiding sugars and acids, Seidell emphasized the essential nature of nutrients such as calcium, fiber and protein. He illustrated how a balanced diet not only promotes oral health, but also has a positive impact on the body as a whole.
In addition, Seidell revealed the links between oral health and chronic lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. His argument went further than just teeth and molars. Viewing the mouth as an integral part of digestion, he emphasized how a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy body.
Seidell's presentation served as a wake-up call, underscoring that caring for our mouths is not just about maintaining a bright smile, but also about promoting good overall health.
Jette Christiansen: History and principles of the Nexø Method. Denmark today
Jette Christiansen, the founder of Gewoon Gaaf, shared with us in her keynote speech the history and principles of the Nexø method, on which Gewoon Gaaf is based. Jette Christiansen not only outlined the history and principles of the Nexø method, but also presented her insights into how this method has been implemented and evaluated in the Netherlands.
Christiansen provided an inspiring illustration of how the principles of individual prevention for children aged 0-18 (later 0-21) were successfully applied in Nexø, Denmark. She emphasized the importance of thorough risk assessment as a foundation for effective prevention programs.
Presentation of the Prevention Prize 2024
During the Annual Congress of the Ivory Cross, the long-awaited Prevention Prize 2024 was also awarded, an award for innovative and effective initiatives in the field of oral health.
The tension rose when the winners were announced:
1st place: “Pass on a smile” – A heart-warming initiative by Lisette van der Harst and Saskia den Hartog from Smiles World in Vianen. Their dedication to education and outreach, with a focus on social impact, impressed the jury and, in their opinion, deserved first place. They not only received the honor, but also a check for 250 euros, publication in the Dental Tribune media channels and a book of their choice from the range of publisher Prelum.
2nd place: “Love your mouth!” – Christine Van Meir from Dental Practice Brecht, Belgium, was awarded second place for her direct and motivating approach to oral health. Her initiative inspired patients to become actively involved in their own prevention, which earned her a check for 150 euros and publication in Dental Tribune.
3rd place: “Dental Coach” – Lodewijk Gründemann and Melle Vroom from Periodontologie Praktijk Friesland in Goutum were awarded third place for their innovative coaching program. Their focus on guiding patients, especially in the field of periodontal health, earned them a check for 100 euros and publication in Dental Tribune.
These awards not only recognize the efforts of these esteemed professionals, but also encourage further progress and innovation within the oral health care community. Their commitment to prevention will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the oral health of many.
Pauline Dekker: Gewoon Gaaf and motivational interviewing cannot exist without each other!
Pauline Dekker, known as a pulmonologist and active in smoking prevention, gave a lively presentation about motivational interviewing in relation to oral health. With humorous role plays and practical examples, she emphasized the importance of empathy and cooperation in motivating patients. Different communication styles were discussed. She also discussed the harmful effects of smoking on oral health and emphasized the importance of smoking prevention in oral care. Dekker's presentation provided valuable insights and tools for effective communication with patients, which can contribute to better oral health for everyone.
Lina Jasulaityte: How to apply Gewoon Gaaf in children with cavitated caries lesions?
Lina, an experienced pediatric dentist and prominent member of the Ivory Cross, shared valuable insights into tackling caries in young children during the conference. She recently returned from a successful Gewoon Gaaf course on Bonaire. Read more.
In her presentation, Lina emphasized the importance of a structured approach when treating children with extensive caries lesions. She compared this approach with a research method a la CSI, in which the cause of the oral problems is first investigated before treatment is started. Methods such as NOCTP (Non-Operative Caries Treatment Protocol) and the KIMO guideline for young people with caries were discussed. She also discussed the promising results of programs such as GigaGaaf and Gezonde Toddlermonden.
Arie Hoeksema: Just Gray Healthy
Look at here the video of the presentation
During the conference, Arie Hoeksema shared his extensive experience in dental care for vulnerable elderly people. Since 1991, he has focused on providing dental care to psychogeriatric and somatic patients in nursing homes.
Hoeksema emphasized the importance of paying attention to mobility problems in the elderly, which make it more difficult for them to visit the dentist. He pointed out that aftercare is essential for this group of patients and that dentists should not only think about swallowing problems if they have difficulty eating.
In his presentation, Hoeksema also discussed the Vulnerable Oral Care Protocol, a Groningen model specifically designed for oral care for elderly people with forgetfulness or dementia. He emphasized the importance of communication with the patient's partner or caregiver and establishing written instructions for home care. He also underlined the necessity of this protocol within the Long-term Care Act (WLZ), in which oral care for vulnerable elderly people is central.
During the break and lunch, the partners of the Ivory Cross and affiliated organizations could be visited. We would like to thank the following partners: Haleon (Sensodyne/Paradontax), Philips, Colgate (elmex), Oral-B, KNMT, DHIN, NVVK, VMBZ and NVM.” And there was also a stand of the Prevention Prize Winners and of the Ivory Cross, manned by members of the Ivory Cross Student Committee.
During the break, a visit could be made to the partners of the Ivoren Cross and other organizations. We would like to thank: Haleon (Sensodyne/Paradontax), Philips, Colgate (elmex), Oral-B, Dentacure, DHIN, NVVK, VMBZ and NVVP.
Partners in prevention:
Annual conference 2023
The Ivory Cross Annual Congress 2023 took place on April 1, 2023 at Acta.
Click herer for the report of the 2023 Annual Congress.