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The BSP has created a decision-making flowchart (algorithm) to help practitioners adapt to the new classification. This document is essential for all practitioners and Periodontists in guiding you through the decision-making process to arrive at the correct diagnosis for your patients. You can view and download a pdf version of the flowchart on our Publications page. The BSP team are in the process of producing a laminated version, which we hope to distribute in the coming weeks. We are grateful to our sponsors Johnson & Johnson and Oral-B who have kindly contributed towards the cost of producing and circulating the flowchart, thereby ensuring that we adequately support the dental profession in their diagnoses and treatment of periodontal patients.

As you will be aware, the British Society of Periodontology set up a working group of specialists and general practitioners to review the 2017 Classification of Periodontal Diseases that was announced at EuroPerio 9. They have worked tirelessly to look at the process of implementation of the 2017 classification for the UK to produce something that is workable and practical in UK general and specialist practice. The BSP implementation document has now been published in the British Dental Journal. The paper describes the salient points of the 2017 classification, rationalises the differences between the 2017 and 1999 classifications, provides BSP management guidelines and an illustrative case study.

The BSPerio have produced a series of webinars which discuss and explain the need for the new classification.

The latest Change4Life campaign is asking parents to “Make a swap when you next shop” to halve their children’s sugar intake from some everyday food and drinks. • Children are currently consuming around 2,800 extra sugar cubes per year. Children have already exceeded the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18 year old by the time they reach their tenth birthday, according to Public Health England (PHE)1. This is based on their total sugar consumption from the age of two.

The BSP and it’s President, Dr Mark Ide, wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, as we look forward to an exciting 2019.

Dear Members, As my presidential year draws to a close my overwhelming feeling is that the BSP is going from strength to strength, building on the excellent initiatives of recent years. I have been privileged to work with BSP Council whose enthusiasm and commitment to the Society is remarkable, particularly Nicola West and Mike Milward, who fit in their work for BSP around very busy academic and clinical roles. My thanks to all of Council for their support during the year.

Last year, the James Lind Alliance Oral and Dental Health Priority Setting Partnership asked patients, carers and health care professionals and members of the public to tell them what questions they wanted research to answer on oral and dental health, to keep peoples' mouths, teeth and gums healthy. Over 600 people replied, submitting over 1000 questions. The responses were whittled down to a key set of 38 questions. In order to promote Oral & Dental Health Research, the Chief Dental Officer shared a survey to identify the top 10 priorities. We are grateful to those members who took the time to complete the survey and hoped that periodontal health research would be recognised as a priority for funding. The results of the survey are now in and more information can be found here.

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) has become a global federation by opening its doors to International Associate Members. EFP President Anton Sculean said: “Periodontitis is a global issue, with severe forms affecting around one in ten people worldwide. (1) Gum health is a key factor for overall health and quality of life. As the most influential periodontal organisation in the world, the EFP is joining forces with international societies so that together we can prevent and treat periodontitis and its complications.” International Associate Member Societies gain access to EFP projects, newsletters and publications; reduced fees for the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, EuroPerio congress and other educational events; support from the EFP Immediate Past President; and much more. Mexico was the first society to become an International Associate Member, followed by Taiwan, Brazil, and Lebanon. Their memberships are set to be formalised at the 2019 EFP General Assembly in Bern, Switzerland, on 30 March. EFP Secretary General Iain Chapple said: “This is an exciting time for the EFP, as we prepare to welcome the first cohort of International Associate Members in March. We are in discussions with other societies and look forward to expanding the EFP family even more.” Cecilia Robles, Immediate Past President of the Mexican Association of Periodontology, said: "Nearly 60% of Mexicans have signs of periodontal disease, and more than three-quarters of 65 to 69 year-olds have poor oral hygiene.” (2) Alejandro García Huerta, President of the Mexican Association of Periodontology, said: “Joining the EFP is an important step towards achieving our goals of improving oral health in Mexico and contributing to international efforts to tackle this widespread problem.” References 1) Kassebaum NJ, Bernabé E, Dahiya M, et al. Global burden of severe periodontitis in 1990-2010: a systematic review and meta-regression. J Dent Res. 2014;93:1045–1053. doi: 10.1177/0022034514552491. 2) Cruz G, Picazzo E. The paradigm of oral health in Mexico. J Oral Res. 2017;6:8–9. doi:10.17126/joralres.2017.004.

The United Nations’ (UN) Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 to promote international togetherness, raise awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare. This special day is celebrated on the 20th November every year.