Dr Patrick Hescot is the new FDI President

Dr Patrick Hescot is the new President of FDI World Dental Federation. He began his two-year mandate on 24 September, following an inauguration ceremony during the meeting of the FDI General Assembly, the federation's governing body, in Bangkok.

Commenting his inauguration, FDI President Hescot said: "To take on the mandate of FDI President requires energy and commitment as well as a dedication to close collaboration with my friends and colleagues in national dental associations worldwide."

"Today, dentists are key socio-economic players with responsibilities for our patients' quality of life. Good oral health is an integral part of wellbeing and a fundamental right of all people. This is the message I will be communicating to governments, international institutions such as WHO and to the media during my term of office," concluded the FDI President.

20 years within FDI

Dr Patrick Hescot, a French national, has been involved in FDI work for over 20 years. He is a former President of the FDI European Regional Organization (ERO), served on the FDI Council since 2007 and was designated President-Elect in 2013.

He is currently Chair of FDI's Observatory and Strategy for Africa Task Teams. He has been an expert on oral health for the World Health Organization (WHO) and Director of a WHO Collaborating Centre since 1998. He is also a former President of the French Union for Oral Health (Union Francaise de Santé Bucco-Dentaire – USFBD) and a former Secretary General of the French Dental Association (Association Dentaire Française - ADF).

Dr Hescot takes over from Dr Tin Chun Wong from Hong Kong.

About FDI

FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for over one million dentists worldwide. Its membership includes approximately 200 national member associations and specialist groups from well over 130 countries. FDI's vision: 'leading the world to optimal oral health'.