Australia's leadership at FDI World Dental Congress 2026

In a period of positive change for the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) which is working to increase participation by its member associations, the 2026 World Dental Congress saw approximately 6,300 attendees meet in Prague, the Czech Republic to help shape global dental policy across a range of key areas.

Current FDI President A/Prof. Dr Nikolai Sharkov stressed the importance of FDI as the only dental institution of its kind in the world with the Speaker of the FDI World Dental Parliament, past ADA President Dr Stephen Liew, emphasising that FDI exists principally to "improve the lives of the 3.8 billion people on the planet who suffer from oral disease which is largely preventable".

As an example of the way in which FDI plays a powerfully influential role in ensuring oral health is treated as part of overall global health policy, Dr Liew pointed to last year's inclusion of oral health as a part of the UN's non-communicable disease policy. The wording, which was "incredibly strong" with a commitment to reducing the incidence of oral disease by thirty percent by 2030, is the result of over two decades of advocacy by the FDI, of which the ADA is a longtime active member. It moves oral health from being treated as an isolated dental issue to being recognised as an integral part of general health and prevention policy.

Global policy, national results

Decisions like this on a global scale mean that the ADA can use this influence to go to the Australian Government and work with them to ensure that the UN policy to which Australia is a signatory becomes a part of the country's national health policy. 

All of the ADA's substantive positions have been developed based on international policies. Further to this, two key fluoride policies were not withdrawn after the ADA advocated to retain them pending the International Association of Dental Research / FDI draft statement on fluoride which won’t be 'live' until the FDI General Assembly in October 2027 to be held in Mumbai, India.

Being a part of FDI and attending FDI WDC and being an active participant in the World Dental Parliament means that Australia is part of a global initiative on oral health, a presence which translates into real change on the floor of practices and clinics across the country.

Australia works closely with a number of fellow members such as the American Dental Association, British Dental Association, Japan Dental Association, Korean Dental Association and the New Zealand Dental Association in what is known as the Perth Group, established by the ADA in 2009 after a meeting of nations in the city. These discussions once again formed a core part of Australia's involvement at this year's General Assembly, providing a forum in which the various associations can learn from each other. 

Key issues that emerged this year were affordability of care, fluoridation policy, oral health misinformation, dental tourism and a lack of workforce planning and workforce maldistribution, and it was instructive for the ADA to hear what other associations are doing in this space and how they are tackling these entrenched issues.

The Australian Dental Association also led two discussions with Dr Kate More, ADA CEO presenting on the Association’s Member Journey Mapping and work Attracting the Next Generation of dentists gained from member insight and international benchmarking. This proved so valuable to other countries of the Perth Group that the ADA has been requested to present its work to the British and Canadian Dental Associations. 

Encouragingly, says ADA Vice President, Dr Angie Nilsson, is that Australia's pilot for a Senior Dental Benefit Schedule (SDBS) program has been included as a case study in an FDI advocacy guide which speaks to the influence of the ADA at a global level. The SDBS is a prime example of universal health coverage for oral health which will deliver access for the most vulnerable populations.

Hearing from each other

Australia was also part of the National Liaison Officer (NLO) meeting at FDI WDC. The role of NLOs, says ADA CEO Dr Kate More (Ph.D), is to identify an association members' needs and what policy directions and resources might be beneficial and to provide this data to FDI and discuss at forums such as this, which also exposes the ADA to the innovative work of many other associations. 

Dr More presented at this year's NLO forum, alongside the New Zealand Dental Association, where she spoke about declining membership participation and how it can be addressed for surprisingly quick results. The presentation was well received, especially by African nations, who are also experiencing some of the same issues and all parties found the discussion to be mutually supportive and beneficial.

AI was also raised in discussions, not only how it can be used within national associations, but how members of associations can use AI and the principles that need to be in place prior to its use.