Global Caries Initiative
The Global Caries Initiative is a profession-led “call to action” to eradicate caries, and thus, improve the oral and general health of populations globally by the year 2020. Dental caries affects the lives of billions of people around the world, posing an enormous public health challenge in its complexity, scale and impact, both at an individual and community-wide level. The Global Caries Initiative aims to establish a broad alliance of key influencers and decision-makers from research, education, clinical practice, public health, government, and industry, partnering in a common goal: to effect fundamental change in health systems and individual behaviour to achieve the 2020 goal.
“Oral health is a neglected area of international health”
Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization,
during the 120th WHO Executive Board session.
Caries doesn't just affect oral health—in many communities it also affects overall quality of life. Yet, oral health remains a “neglected area of international health” (Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization), with related programs often lacking the necessary government funding and support to achieve effective, widespread impact. The Global Caries Initiative is a response to this gap, designed to generate awareness about the greater implications of neglected oral health and to create a new paradigm for caries management.
FDI World Dental Federation is collaborating closely with the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and International Association of Dental Educators and Associations (IFDEA) to coordinate communication, research and education activities related to the Global Caries Initiative. With a membership of approximately 200 national dental associations and specialist groups, FDI acts as a unified voice of dentistry, representing more than one million dentists worldwide in “leading the world to optimal oral health”.
Global Caries Initiative: A Global Alliance
Progress towards the Global Caries Initiative vision of eradicating caries by 2020 requires the coordinated action of key stakeholders around the world: FDI World Dental Federation plays a critical role in facilitating dialogue between its members and partners through ongoing communications activities, as well regional and international events, including Continuing Education Programmes and the Annual World Dental Congress.
“Dental decay (caries) is the most common chronic disease on the planet—yet it is preventable”
The Oral Health Atlas
(FDI World Dental Federation publication)
Rio Caries Conference
The Global Caries Initiative was introduced at the Rio Caries Conference in July 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The conference, co-hosted by FDI World Dental Federation and the Brazilian Dental Association (ABO), brought together leading experts in epidemiology, cariology, dental education, prevention and change management with leaders of Latin American dental associations, IADR and IFDEA, the Chief Dental Officer of Brazil, and other regional and international representatives to explore existing knowledge on caries prevalence and management, and to establish clear priorities for the Global Caries Initiative within the existing framework for global health care.
GCI Priority Action Areas
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Coordinated Action
2009 FDI Programme on
Dental Caries
It is the role of the dental profession, as trusted health professionals, to lead the development of a new paradigm for caries management and to create a common vision of health.
FDI World Dental Federation is engaged in a global consultation process to assess the potential challenges and impact of introducing a preventive model to existing systems for caries management. A common themes identified at the Rio Caries Conference is the need for the profession to establish a common language for caries—in dental practice, education, research and public health—which is consistent with best evidence and modern preventive practice. FDI World Dental Federation is supporting the dissemination of a standard “glossary” of terms in cariology to facilitate dialogue between stakeholders and move towards a common, internationally accepted language for caries.
