FDIWDC26 sessions on amalgam and determinants of oral health

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 24. August 2026

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic: The 2026 FDI World Dental Congress (FDIWDC26) is taking place at a significant point for the oral health profession. As countries work to integrate oral health into broader health, development and sustainability agendas, dentists and oral health leaders are being asked to engage with challenges that extend beyond the clinic. These include the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices and the need to address the social and commercial factors that influence health.

Two sessions will examine these developments. One will focus on the global phase-down of dental amalgam and the profession’s path towards a phase-out by 2034. The other, held as part of the FDI World Oral Health Forum, will explore the determinants of oral health. Together, the sessions will underline that oral health will be shaped not only by clinical progress but also by the profession’s ability to engage with the policies and systems that influence health worldwide.

Sustainable dentistry and the dental amalgam transition

The transition towards more sustainable healthcare is no longer a distant goal but a current policy priority. At FDIWDC26, the session “Towards sustainable dentistry: Global best practices for phasing out dental amalgam by 2034” will examine one of the most significant examples of this transition in dentistry.

The discussion sits at the intersection of clinical practice, environmental responsibility and international policy. For oral health professionals, understanding the changing landscape around dental amalgam is increasingly important as countries implement commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which aims to reduce mercury emissions and protect human health and the environment.

The session will provide an overview of global progress towards reducing the use of dental amalgam. As countries implement mercury-reduction commitments, dental systems are moving towards mercury-free alternatives at different speeds, creating varying challenges around access, cost and clinical decision-making.

A central focus will be evidence and practical experience. Delegates will gain insight into findings from FDI’s Vision 2030 mid-term review, including data on current trends in dental amalgam use and policy implementation worldwide. The session will also present case studies from countries at different stages of the dental amalgam transition, offering practical lessons on the opportunities and challenges linked to phasing down, and ultimately phasing out, the material.

The session will examine the World Health Organization’s guidance on environmentally friendly and less invasive approaches to preventing and managing caries. These recommendations reflect a broader shift towards prevention, minimal intervention and sustainability. For practitioners, understanding these principles can help align clinical decision-making with emerging global standards and support effective, patient-centred care.

The phase-down of dental amalgam cannot be viewed solely as a materials issue. It is also connected to health equity, workforce preparedness, procurement systems and access to care. In many settings, clinicians remain concerned about ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to receive affordable restorative treatment as countries move towards mercury-free alternatives. The session will therefore consider how environmental goals can be balanced with everyday clinical realities.

The broader relevance of the session lies in the connection between oral health and sustainable healthcare. Across healthcare, governments are seeking ways to improve health outcomes while reducing the environmental impact of care, and dentistry forms part of this transition. By examining dental amalgam within the context of international environmental commitments and evolving models of care, the session will show how oral health can contribute to wider sustainability goals.

As chair of the FDI Vision 2030 expert group and a leading voice in global health, Prof. Manu Mathur has been closely involved in guiding the implementation of the initiative. (Image: FDI)

World Oral Health Forum: Exploring the determinants of oral health

Achieving universal health coverage and improving population oral health require more than clinical care. They depend on effective public policy, strong governance and action on the factors that shape health before patients enter the dental clinic. These themes are central to the World Oral Health Forum session, titled “Understanding and addressing the determinants of oral health for realising Vision 2030 and UHC”.
Given the global burden of oral disease, prevention requires action beyond healthcare services alone. Commercial environments, marketing practices, product availability and wider social conditions all influence oral health outcomes. The session will examine these determinants and their growing relevance in global health policy.

The discussion is timely in the context of efforts by governments and international organisations to integrate oral health into non-communicable disease strategies and advance commitments on universal health coverage. At the same time, concerns are increasing about the influence of commercial interests on public health policy and consumer behaviour. For health professionals involved in policy development and advocacy, understanding these dynamics is increasingly important.

Delegates will be introduced to the concept of commercial determinants of health, an area receiving growing attention from the World Health Organization and other international bodies. Discussions will examine how commercial actors can influence health outcomes through marketing practices, policy engagement and the promotion of products associated with disease risk. Drawing on lessons from tobacco control, the session will consider how these experiences can inform responses to public health challenges associated with electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems.

The topic is directly relevant to oral health professionals because oral disease prevalence is strongly influenced by consumption patterns, behavioural risk factors and commercial environments. Nicotine products, nicotine-free alternatives and products high in sugar are marketed through traditional, digital and social media channels. Understanding these drivers can support prevention strategies, help protect public health policies from undue influence and strengthen advocacy for healthier environments.

The session will also focus on possible responses. Speakers will discuss evidence-based approaches to limiting harmful commercial influence, strengthening governance mechanisms and safeguarding policy development processes. These issues are relevant as countries prepare for future high-level discussions on health, non-communicable disease and universal health coverage.

The programme aligns with FDI’s Vision 2030, which calls for the integration of oral health into broader health and development agendas. Achieving this requires oral health leaders to engage with policy debates beyond the health sector and to understand how decisions made across government and industry can affect health outcomes. By examining conflict-of-interest safeguards and strategies for strengthening policy resilience, the session will provide delegates with knowledge that extends beyond traditional clinical practice.

As dentists and dental teams contribute to discussions on prevention, equity and public policy, understanding the determinants of health can support more effective engagement with governments, civil society and international institutions. For delegates seeking to understand how oral health fits within global discussions on universal health coverage, non-communicable disease and sustainable development, the session will offer context on the profession’s role in shaping healthier policy environments.