New article spotlights oral health collaboration for ageing populations

GC International

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As the global population ages, FDI World Dental Federation’s Oral Health for an Ageing Population initiative supports dental professionals with the tools to deliver optimal care to older adults. (Image: Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

GC International

Thu. 10. April 2025

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LONDON, England: A recent editorial has highlighted the meaningful collaboration between the dental profession and industry under FDI World Dental Federation’s Oral Health for an Ageing Population (OHAP) project. The piece underscores the importance of such partnerships in addressing the oral health challenges faced by older adults and in promoting healthy longevity through improved quality of life.

The OHAP project was launched in 2015, shortly after the Tokyo Declaration on Dental Care and Oral Health for Healthy Longevity. It aims to strengthen the role of the oral health community in addressing the needs of ageing populations and advocates for the integration of oral health into broader disease policies and health promotion strategies. The initiative is a joint effort between FDI and GC Corporation, supported by the Foundation Nakao for Worldwide Oral Health.

According to the World Health Organization, by 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 or older. The number of people in this age group is expected to grow from one billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion by 2030 and to 2.1 billion by 2050. Meanwhile, the population aged 80 and older is projected to triple, reaching 426 million by 2050—highlighting the urgent need for proactive and integrated care strategies to support healthy ageing.

The OHAP project brings together a range of stakeholders to develop practical, patient-centred resources that empower dental professionals and caregivers taking care of older adults and help older adults maintain their oral health. One such tool is the FDI Frailty Guide, which helps dental professionals create personalised care plans that support both oral health and overall well-being.

The editorial, titled “Oral health in an ageing population: When the profession and industry unite for healthy longevity”, was published online on 28 March 2025 in the British Dental Journal.

More information about the OHAP initiative and its resources is available at www.fdiworlddental.org/oral-health-ageing-population.