PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Population ageing is one of the defining demographic trends today. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and older is expected to reach two billion. Since its launch in 2015, the FDI Oral Health for an Ageing Population (OHAP) project, supported by GC International and the Nakao Foundation, has worked to ensure that oral health is recognised as an essential component of healthy ageing, given its importance for nutrition, communication, social participation and overall well-being. It has supported dental professionals, FDI’s member national dental associations and communities in addressing the oral health needs of older adults through prevention, integrated care and advocacy.
Prof. Gerry McKenna will be one of the speakers at the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress. (Image: Tomas Tyner/University College Cork)
Over the past decade, the OHAP project has developed practical resources for oral health professionals and stakeholders working to support healthy ageing. These include the FDI Frailty Guide, a web app which supports the identification and management of oral frailty in clinical practice; the FDI OHAP exercise brochure, which outlines simple exercises to help older adults maintain oral function; and Managing Older Adults: Chairside Guide, a tool that helps dental professionals assess dependency levels and adapt care accordingly. The recently published Promoting Oral Health for an Ageing Population: An Advocacy Guide provides national dental associations and oral health advocates with practical tools to support policy engagement and the integration of oral health into healthy ageing agendas.
The OHAP project continues to promote knowledge exchange and education. In January, FDI hosted a webinar that brought together international experts to discuss oral frailty, healthy ageing, and the role of dentists and dental teams in supporting older adults. The webinar attracted participants from around the world and reinforced the link between oral health and healthy ageing.
A major focus of the current phase of the OHAP project is the preparation of a special issue in the International Dental Journal. The supplement will comprise eight articles authored by international experts and explore key topics related to ageing and oral health, including oral frailty, integrated care, dental care systems, policy approaches and community-based approaches to improving oral health in older adults. Together, these articles will present evidence and practical recommendations to support the integration of oral health into broader healthy ageing strategies.
The 2026 FDI World Dental Congress will provide an opportunity to explore these developments and engage with experts in the field. A dedicated session on the OHAP project will offer practical insights into the role of oral health in healthy ageing. It will highlight key achievements of the initiative, present resources developed through the project and share insights from the forthcoming supplement. Through advocacy, education and collaboration, the OHAP project continues to support efforts to improve oral health and quality of life for older adults.
Editorial note:
FDI’s Oral Health for an Ageing Population project is supported by GC International and the Nakao Foundation. More information about the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress can be found here.
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