Dental Prevention and Oral Health Education in the Ionian Islands: 1826-2026: A 200-Year Educational Trajectory from School Hygiene to Modern Promotion

This book examines the historical evolution of Health Education in the educational system of the Ionian Islands over the last two hundred years (1826-2026), highlighting the transition from practices of "school hygiene" and sanitary discipline toward holistic approaches to health promotion, prevention, and the empowerment of students and communities.The analysis is organized into six distinct historical periods:(A) Late British Protectorate and the Ionian Academy (1826-1864),(B) Integration into the Greek State and institutionalization of school hygiene (1864-1913),(C) Interwar period and early social medicine (1914-1940),(D) Occupation and post-war reconstruction (1941-1979),(E) Institutional consolidation of Health Education (1980-2009),(F) Era of crises, digital transition, and contemporary health policies (2010-2026).Special emphasis is placed on the enduring importance of island-specific characteristics (geographical isolation, seasonality, health threats/infections, and inequalities in access), as well as on contemporary interventions such as oral health education initiatives and national programs for the awareness and sensitization of the student population.