Hungarian Society of Periodontology

The Hungarian Society of Periodontology  was registered as a independent non profit scientific organisation by the Budapest Court of Justice  in 1995. Nevertheless its history is dating back to the 70-es when  Prof. Kornelia Sallay the first professor of periodontology in Hungary founded the Periodontal Section of the Hungarian Dental Association.

The Hungarian Dental Association is a scientific organizationand established in 1885  has had several professional societies : Hungarian Society of Periodontology, Orthodontic and paedodontic Society, Hungarian Society of Implantology, Prosthodontic Society, Assotiation for Preventive Dentistry Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Society of Dento-maxillofacial Radiology, Endodontic Society.  The Periodontal Section had had approx.  130 voluntary members and organised  several national and two successful international meetings during  the 70-es and 80-es and early 90-es. Then we established close collaboration with the East German, Polish and  Czech societies and also had professional connection to the West.. Now mostly all professional societies are independent court registered organizations and  now the Hungarian Dental Association is rather a federation of those societies.

Since 1995 the Hungarian Periodontal Society  has its own bank account, VAT number  and accountant.  In 1996 our society applied for an associate membership at  the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP). The HSP is still has an associate membership status in EFP although it meets all the requirements for the full membership.

Specialist training in Hungary

Until 2004, upon qualification, there was a programme of mandatory vocational postgraduate residency training for 26 months, under the guidance of a skilled dentist and based on a government decree. The programme was organised by the Universities/Dental Schools and was totally financed by the Ministry of Health, which paid the salaries. Residents, known as Központi gyakornok, needed to hold Hungarian citizenship. The residents were mainly employed in the public sector. The program consisted of a theoretical part which covers all fields of dentistry including practice management, legal requirements and first aid and a practical part undertaken either at the University clinics or in other polyclinics accredited by the University. The residents worked under the supervision of a tutor and the whole program was supervised and coordinated by mentors appointed by the Dental Schools. This vocational training was compulsory for all graduates, including those of other EU countries’ dental schools. However, changes to the law abolished the mandatory general dentistry residency programme, giving full access to liberal private practice, from 2004. All dental graduates have all the rights for free practice after graduation. Five speciality programmes were introduced as first specializations: Conservative dentistry and Prosthodontics, Dentoalveolar surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontontics and Paedodontics.

Specialist Training takes place in universities and is 3 years for all specialties. A special committee is responsible for this training.

The five  recognised specialties for training in Hungary:

• Orthodontics,  with the title: Fogszabályozó szakorovs
• Periodontology, with the title: Parodontológus
• Paediatric dentistry, with the title: Gyermekfogorvos
• Dento-alveolar surgery, with the title: Dento alveoláris sebész
• Conservative Dentistry and Prosthodontics -  with the title: Konzerváló Fogászat és Fogpótlástan szakorvos  

The undergraduate periodontal training is dating back to the mid 50-es. In the beginning Periodontology was a two semester subject combined with oral medicine, including theoretical lectures and chairside practices. Now Periodontology is a four semester subject during the 4th and fifth years. The graduates must have full competence in diagnosing and treating gingivitis and mild to moderate chronic periodontitis.

The three year postgraduate speciality programme was accredited in 2000. From that time on there is a government recognized three year residency programme. Before joining the EU  it is because of a two  year vocationa dental training programme finished with a licence exam  periodontal specialisation was a second speciality.  With joining the EU the Hungarian D.M.D. degree granted full competence and licence to practice independently and the mandatory two year vocation licence training program was abolished. From 2005. Periodontology is a first dental speciality one of the recognised 5 specialiteis in  

The periodontal residents have their own training programme. The majority of the training is taking place at the periodontal departments of the four Hungarian dental schools. The largest periodontal department  is located at Semmelweis University in Budapest. This department has a total of 35 dental unites. 18 units are for the undergraduate training and 17 serves the faculty practice and residency programme.

Since 2000  45 periodontist passed the speciality exams and received their certificate as certified periodontist. As the majority of periodontal non-surgical and surgical therapy is fully covered by the Hungarian Health Insurance Fund  our periodontal specialists can make a contract  with the Health Insurance to treat insured patients. Currently in the periodontal residency programmes at the four universities some 23 1st, 2nd and 3dr year residents works and gets clinical training and theoretical instruction. Each resident has its own tutor. There are a few extramural accredited periodontal practices where  our residents can do their clinical practice under the supervision of their accredited tutor. In those cases also a qualified professor or associate professor from one of the university delegated as a supervisor (mentor) of the training,  In those cases a mandatory 6 months period  should be spent at university periodontal clinics.  During the first year the periodontal residents should participate in a rotation programme, including oral surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics  oral diagnostics and emergency room.

The periodontal research activity is internationally recognized . In the past 12 years more then 30  peer  reviewed papers  were published by the faculty members  and PhD students from the Semmelweis University, and  several papers from Szeged University.  We have had very fruitful professional collaboration with several European  and American universities.

Dental Hygienists

Hygienists are permitted to work in Hungary, provided they have a Certificate. They train in one of 7 State financed schools specifically for dental hygienists, for one year, following two year’s training as a dental assistant.

The Hungarian Society of Periodontology has

• 32 EFP registered full members
• 140 national members

Hungarian Society of Periodontology  Board

President:  Peter Windisch , D.M.D. Ph.D.
Semmelweis University Department of Periodontology