FDI Oral Health Observatory: 10 Years of Data-Driven Impact

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 11. August 2026

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Over the past decade, the FDI Oral Health Observatory (OHO) project has demonstrated the potential of practice-based data collection to strengthen oral health advocacy and policy dialogue and to support better health outcomes around the world. Launched in 2014, the OHO was established to address a critical challenge in oral health: the lack of standardised, comparable data collected directly from dental practices. Since then, the project has grown into a global initiative spanning more than 12 countries in all six World Health Organization regions. To date, more than 10,000 patients have participated in the programme, generating a rich body of evidence on oral health status and behaviours, access to care and oral health-related quality of life.

The Oral Health Observatory Task Team. (Image: FDI World Dental Federation)

The OHO represents one of the most distinctive international oral health datasets available. By combining patient-reported and clinician-reported information through a common methodology, the project provides insights that are both globally comparable and locally relevant. This integrated approach enables participating FDI national dental associations to generate evidence that can support advocacy efforts and policy engagement.

The impact of the OHO extends far beyond data collection. Findings from participating countries have contributed to peer-reviewed publications, national oral health strategies and advocacy initiatives on risk factors such as sugar consumption and have strengthened dialogue between national dental associations and policymakers. In Lebanon, OHO data helped inform the country’s first national oral health strategy. In India, OHO data supported policy discussions on prevention, sugar reduction and tobacco control. Other participating countries offer similar examples, underscoring how evidence can be translated into action.

To mark this important milestone, FDI has prepared a ten-year impact report, which showcases the programme’s achievements, lessons learned and future opportunities. The report highlights how the OHO has evolved from an innovative data collection project into a platform that supports research, advocacy and policy engagement. It also underlines how the OHO supports the implementation of the World Health Organization’s Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023–2030) and strengthens national oral health information systems.

Attendees of the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress in Prague are invited to learn more about the OHO during a dedicated session on Monday, 7 September. The session will present key findings from the ten-year impact report, showcase experiences from participating countries and explore how data-driven approaches can help advance oral health policy and advocacy worldwide.

As oral health increasingly gains recognition within the broader global health agenda, robust and actionable evidence has never been more important. The OHO continues to address this gap by bringing together oral health professionals and national dental associations to collect and use data for meaningful change.

Editorial note:

The FDI Oral Health Observatory project is supported by Haleon. More information about the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress can be found here.