Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Toward Vision 2030

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 152; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.adaj.2021.06.009

1943-4723

Gerhard Konrad Seeberger,

Global Health and Surgery

It is the vision of 1 man, Dr. Charles Godon, on whose legacy Fédération Dentaire Internationale (now known as FDI World Dental Federation [FDI]) stands today.1Ennis J. The Story of the Fédération Dentaire Internationale 1900-1962. Fédération Dentaire Internationale, 1967Google Scholar Committed to sharing knowledge and passionate about uniting the world of skilled dentistry in an era where unqualified back-street dentists were rife, Dr. Godon brought together 5 like-minded dentists on August 15, 1900, to form FDI.2Seeberger G.K. Lamster I.B. Bondioni E. Celebrating a double milestone in 2020: FDI turns 120 and the International Dental Journal is 70.Int Dent J. 2020; 70: 319-320Crossref PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar Dr. Godon, who held both medical and dental degrees, was dean of the Ecole Dentaire de Paris when FDI was founded, and he viewed education as the crux of helping to achieve better oral health for all.3Hancocks S. The FDI’s first ten years, 1900-1910.Int Dent J. 2000; 50: 175-183Crossref PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar Fast forward 121 years to FDI’s Vision 2030: Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All report,4Glick M. Williams D.M. Ben Yahya I. et al.Vision 2030: Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All. FDI World Dental Federation; 2021. Accessed May 28, 2021.https://www.fdiworlddental.org/vision2030Google Scholar in which education is central to achieving the goals outlined and is the foundation on which the 3 pillars sit, so that a responsive and resilient profession, with the knowledge and skills to lead systems reforms, is created (Figure). So how will FDI be able to deliver the ambitious goals delineated in the Vision 2030 report and stay true to the fundamental principles on which the organization was created? The answer lies at the heart of the organization: its members. FDI works with close to 200 national dental associations and specialist groups from more than 130 countries to improve the oral health of people worldwide. Being the principal representative body of more than 1 million dentists gives gravitas to FDI’s activities, but with this influence also comes a huge responsibility to ensure that the interests of all members, from every region of the world, are met. It is only by consulting with them and learning from their knowledge and expertise at a national level that FDI can strengthen the impact of its work at a global level. As Dr. Godon said in 1902, “There can be no interference in national affairs.”3Hancocks S. The FDI’s first ten years, 1900-1910.Int Dent J. 2000; 50: 175-183Crossref PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar That is a sentiment shared by the Vision 2030 report, which “is not intended to be prescriptive, but instead to provide guidance contingent on local needs, conditions, and circumstances.”4Glick M. Williams D.M. Ben Yahya I. et al.Vision 2030: Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All. FDI World Dental Federation; 2021. Accessed May 28, 2021.https://www.fdiworlddental.org/vision2030Google Scholar FDI members helped shape the report and gave final approval to the strategies presented. We now rely on them to translate Vision 2030 into practical solutions, at the national level, to help address challenges and seize opportunities to deliver people-centered health care to the populations they serve. The strength, tenacity, and resilience of FDI’s membership are the reasons why the organization still stands 121 years later. Prioritizing the health and well-being of people has always been at the forefront of what we do. This commitment was demonstrated at the FDI Congress held on the eve of World War I in 1914, in which our members affirmed that “medicine and science know no politics and no nationality and must steadily pursue their way under all conditions and in all circumstances.”1Ennis J. The Story of the Fédération Dentaire Internationale 1900-1962. Fédération Dentaire Internationale, 1967Google Scholar FDI’s World Dental Congress has a long history; since the first conference was held in 1901, attendance has grown to the tens of thousands. In 2020, when the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings had to be postponed or canceled, and we had to look at new ways of delivering science and supporting continuing education. These novel approaches continue in 2021, when from September 26 through 29, the Australian Dental Association and FDI will host a 100% virtual special edition of the World Dental Congress, delivering more than 200 scientific sessions. Oral health care was also one of the most disrupted essential health services during the pandemic, and the resilience of the oral health community was once again put to the test. FDI, together with its members, is learning from the COVID-19 response and is collecting evidence through its COVID-19 Task Team, so that health systems will be better prepared for future pandemics and can ensure uninterrupted access to dental care. We are beginning to see the predicted fallout from the lack of access to oral health services during lockdowns. Dentists are concerned that patients are still delaying regular check-ups and only booking an appointment once they are already in pain, have lost functionality, or have infections that require complicated treatment. If the call for investing in health systems as part of universal health coverage has largely fallen on deaf ears until now, COVID-19 has certainly forced the issue. This pandemic has severely exacerbated health inequities across the spectrum, both within and between countries. FDI has championed access to oral health care since its creation and has worked to improve oral health literacy by setting up campaigns such as World Oral Health Day, which has been running since 2007 and is now celebrated annually on March 20th. The organization has also led advocacy efforts at the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO), with which it has been in official relations since 1948. There was a significant breakthrough in 2011 when oral diseases were recognized as part of the noncommunicable disease (NCD) agenda at the first UN high-level meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs.5United NationsResolution A/RES/66/2. Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases; 2011. Accessed May 28, 2021.https://www.who.int/nmh/events/un_ncd_summit2011/political_declaration_en.pdf?ua=1Google Scholar In parallel to these developments, in 2016 FDI unveiled a new definition of oral health, positioning it as an integral part of general health and well-being.6Glick M, Williams DM, Dushanka V, Vujicic M, Watt RG, Weyant RJ. A new definition for oral health developed by the FDI World Dental Federation opens the door to a universal definition of oral health. JADA. 147(12);915-917.Google Scholar Then in 2019, world leaders made a commitment to strengthen oral health in the first-ever UN Declaration on Universal Health Coverage.7United NationsResolution A/RES/74/2. Political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage; 2019. Accessed May 28, 2021.https://www.who.int/nmh/events/un_ncd_summit2011/political_declaration_en.pdf?ua=1Google Scholar These actions are paving the way to make oral health available, accessible, and affordable for all. Despite these positive developments, prioritization of oral health and progress in preventing oral diseases and integrating oral health care at the national level has been insufficient. Oral diseases remain the most prevalent condition globally, affecting almost one-half of the world’s population (3.5 billion people) and are strongly associated with other NCDs, including diabetes, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.8Petersen P.E. Bourgeois D. Ogawa H. Estupinan-Day S. Ndiaye C. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health.Bull World Health Org. 2005; 83: 661-669PubMed Google Scholar In this context, WHO’s World Health Assembly passed a new resolution on oral health in May9WHO 74th World Health AssemblyResolution EB148.R1. Oral health; 2021. Accessed May 28, 2021.https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74/B148_REC1_EXT-en.pdfGoogle Scholar that focuses on prevention and multisectoral action, recognizing the need to integrate oral health services into universal health coverage benefit packages, and includes strong follow-up actions to ensure its national implementation. In the coming years, WHO will develop a global strategy and action plan for public oral health. We believe our Vision 2030 report will be instrumental to WHO, member states, and national dental associations for the implementation of this resolution, together with the work of The Lancet Commission on Oral Health, and the upcoming WHO global oral health report and US surgeon general's report on oral health expected later this year. More than 120 years after FDI was founded, oral health has returned to the global health agenda stronger than ever. It is now our responsibility to ensure the WHO resolution on oral health becomes a game changer for the lives of the populations we serve. With governments being tasked over the next 2 years with developing 2030 targets and a framework to monitor progress, oral health care professionals must work across sectors and in partnership with all key stakeholders to hold governments accountable and safeguard people’s right to oral health.With governments being tasked over the next 2 years with developing 2030 targets and a framework to monitor progress, oral health care professionals must work across sectors and in partnership with all key stakeholders to hold governments accountable and safeguard people’s right to oral health.