Region of Crete’s children’s dental health program wins global FDI Smile Grant 2026

A children’s oral health program run by the Region of Crete has won the “FDI Smile Grant 2026,” a top international award from the World Dental Federation (FDI), regional authorities announced.

The program, called “Doctor Beaver, Master of the Teeth” (“Γιατρός ο Κάστορας, των δοντιών ο Μάστορας”), is implemented in cooperation with the Hellenic Dental Federation and the island’s dental associations. It was selected from 187 entries submitted by national dental federations representing 132 countries.

The award was announced and presented at the FDI World Dental Congress held in Prague. According to the FDI, the program stood out for combining a mobile dental unit with a children’s storybook and a theatrical performance, creating what the federation described as a direct, accessible and engaging way to deliver prevention and health education to children and families.

Award presented in Prague

FDI President Nikolai Sharkov presented the award to Crete’s Deputy Regional Governor Giorgos Pitsoulis, Hellenic Dental Federation President Athanasios Devliotis, and Heraklion Dental Association President Giannis Sbokos.

Sharkov said the program’s lasting impact, its partnership with local communities, and its potential as a model for other countries made it “a deeply inspiring initiative” that upgrades oral health and helps close gaps in access to prevention and care. He said the “Doctor Beaver” program demonstrates that prevention, collective effort and education can build a better future for the next generation, “starting from Crete and opening paths for similar actions across the country.”

Officials react

Pitsoulis, after thanking Crete’s Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis for his sustained support of the program, said the international recognition was “a huge honor for Crete and for everyone who has worked dedicatedly over the years to turn prevention into practice.” He said the recognition among 187 national dental organizations from 132 countries shows that an effort born in Crete can serve as a model beyond Greece’s borders.

Devliotis, president of the Hellenic Dental Federation, thanked Arnaoutakis and Pitsoulis for their support and credited the island’s dental associations, particularly Sbokos and volunteer dentists who deliver the program through the mobile unit and the theatrical performance in schools. He said the award “belongs to every Greek dentist” and expressed hope to expand similar initiatives to secure healthy smiles for children across the country.

Sbokos, head of the Heraklion Dental Association, called the recognition “a special moment for all of Crete’s dentists,” describing it as a reward for an effort built on cooperation, care for children, and the belief that proper education can meaningfully improve their health and lives.