New FDI report highlights the value of patient-centred oral-health data

The FDI World Dental Federation, of which the ADA is a long-time active member, has marked the tenth anniversary of its Oral Health Observatory (OHO) initiative with the release of its Ten years of Oral Health Observatory data: Evidence, Impact and the Road Ahead report. 

Established in 2014, the OHO seeks to generated standardised data on oral health by collecting data on “oral health behaviours, healthcare needs and the impact of oral health on quality of life”. 

The analysis of this data provides the basis for the FDI’s advocacy work and informs the report which "showcases findings from more than 10,000 patients across 12+ countries, providing insights into oral health behaviours, disease burden, access to care, and patient-reported outcomes collected through dental clinics". 

The report, which covers the work of OHO over its first ten years, highlights that this collected data is playing a key role in strengthening the evidence base for oral health policy, advocacy and care, particularly by member national dental associations and how OHO data has informed their advocacy over the last decade. 

“Reliable, patient-centred data are essential for evidence-based policymaking,” agreed the FDI OHO Task Team. “The OHO shows that when oral health professionals, researchers and National Dental Associations work together, they can generate the insights needed to shape better policies, improve oral health and reduce inequalities."