A partnership inspiring good oral health

Sitting down with our partner, Dr. Anna Bogren, Associate Professor in Periodontology at Umeå University and former president of the Swedish Society of Periodontology and Implantology (SSPI) – we dive into the vital role of education in preventing oral diseases. She shares how partnerships and collaboration are key to spreading the message of prevention, especially when it comes to periodontitis, a silent disease affecting at least 50% of the global population and the leading cause of tooth loss.

 

 

Dr. Bogren reflects on the dental industry’s shift from reactive treatment to proactive strategies, a crucial step toward sustainability in the oral care sector. Dr. Bogren believes prevention and patient compliance should be at the core of all dental procedures – without them, maintaining oral health simply isn’t possible. But to make prevention a true priority, it needs to be ingrained from the start. With heavy and often stressful workloads, students sometimes focus more on treatment than prevention. Changing this mindset is something she works on daily.

 

Her distinguished career, including her time at Umeå University, has shaped her role as SSPI president, with a strong focus on continuing education. Her commitment to learning and professional development is also reflected in the Midwinter Course, SSPI’s annual event, where she has played a key role in advancing education and creating a space for professionals to learn, exchange experiences, and reconnect with colleagues.

 

 

For Dr. Bogren, prevention isn’t just about knowledge – it’s about working together. She believes in a patient-centred approach, turning patients into active partners in their own care. Making them co-therapists in their treatment is the only way to ensure long-term success – but reaching that goal starts with educating dental professionals. This impact grows when the dental profession and the industry unite with a shared commitment.

 

Since TePe and SSPI partnered, Dr. Bogren has had the opportunity to inspire many. She has lectured for TePe’s extended family in Istanbul, engaging with more than 90 distributors and TePe staff, at TePe’s headquarters for a group of Key Opinion Leaders from Japan. She served as the keynote speaker in Tokyo, leading a full-day session on team dentistry, the role of the dental hygienist, and how to implement Swedish-style preventive dentistry into practice, reaching more than 200 professionals.

 

This shared vision continues to drive the TePeSSPI partnership, closing the knowledge gap in the profession and reinforcing that prevention and home care are the foundation of lifelong oral health.

 

 

As the conversation ended, Dr. Bogren emphasised that true sustainability in oral health lies in prioritising prevention over intervention, reinforcing the importance of preserving natural teeth whenever possible.