Obituary: Enric Masdevall Noguera (1940–2025)

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) learned with great sadness of the passing of Enric Masdevall Noguera, founder and president of Dentaid, a visionary entrepreneur whose lifelong commitment to oral health, science and people has left a lasting mark.

The EFP is especially grateful for Dentaid’s early and steadfast support. In 2009, Dentaid became the EFP’s first industry partner, pioneering a model that has since enabled the federation to advance education, research dissemination, and professional exchanges across Europe and beyond. This support reflected Enric Masdevall’s deep belief in collaboration with the scientific community for the benefit of patients.

Born in Spain in 1940, Masdevall identified early on a gap in oral healthcare: a lack of focus on prevention, education and research-driven solutions. In 1980, guided by this insight and by a strong sense of social responsibility, he founded Dentaid in Barcelona. What began as a modest entrepreneurial initiative grew into an international family-owned company, now present in more than 70 countries, recognised for its contribution to improving oral health worldwide.

From the outset, Masdevall believed that progress in oral health could only be achieved through rigorous science. Under his leadership, Dentaid invested consistently in research and innovation, establishing its own research centre dedicated to oral microbiology and biofilm-related diseases. This long-term commitment enabled meaningful contributions to the scientific community and supported advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, particularly in periodontology.

Equally central to his vision was investing in people. Masdevall firmly believed that a company’s success rests on the knowledge, values and engagement of its teams. He fostered a culture of continuous training, collaboration and professionalism, empowering generations of employees and oral health professionals. His service extended well beyond the company itself, through sustained support for education, scientific societies, and community initiatives.

On behalf of the EFP, we extend our heartfelt thanks for his vision, generosity and trust. We also express our sincere condolences to his family, the extended Dentaid family, and his many friends across the oral health world. Enric Masdevall’s legacy lives on in the Dentaid spirit, the professionals he inspired, and the countless lives improved through better oral health.