Oral health challenges

In 2012, FDI’s Vision 2020 document Shaping the Future of Oral Health identified a wide range of challenges and opportunities for oral health. ‘Persisting oral health inequalities; lack of access to oral healthcare; unaffordability of dental treatment in many places; a growing and ageing population; workforce migration; dental tourism; the emergence of new educational models; the evolving distribution of tasks between members of the oral healthcare workforce; ongoing legislative actions targeting hazardous materials; and the increasing use of information and communication technologies in all segments of our lives and professions’ were listed among those opportunities and challenges that require appropriate and timely action.

This chapter focuses on some of these challenges and details important aspects where oral health professionals and policy makers need to collaborate closely in order to identify and implement adequate solutions.