Chinese Taipei: Bringing FDI resources to the chairside

More than 200 dentists and oral health professionals in Chinese Taipei came together for a tobacco cessation workshop that brought FDI’s tobacco cessation resources into local professional practice.

Independently organized in Chinese Taipei under the guidance of public health authorities and in collaboration with the Chinese Taipei Association for Dental Sciences, the workshop provided an opportunity for dental professionals to explore practical approaches to integrating tobacco cessation into routine oral healthcare, drawing on resources developed by FDI.

Dr Elham Kateeb, member of the FDI Tobacco Cessation Experts Group and member of the FDI Council, also contributed to the workshop. Her participation helped connect FDI’s global work on tobacco cessation with the priorities and activities of Chinese Taipei’s dental community, demonstrating how international expertise and resources can support national implementation.

The strong participation reflected growing recognition of the role dentists can play in identifying tobacco use, initiating conversations about quitting and supporting patients in their cessation journey.

Azerbaijan: Marking World No Tobacco Day through dental education

A similar commitment was demonstrated in Azerbaijan, where a scientific-practical conference dedicated to No Tobacco Day on July 8, 2026, was held at the Stomatological Training Clinic of Azerbaijan Medical University (AMU). The event was jointly organized by Azerbaijan Medical University and the Azerbaijan Stomatological Association (ASA).

Opening the conference, Professor Rena Aliyeva, President of the ASA and Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at AMU, highlighted the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of scientific knowledge in advancing dentistry in Azerbaijan. She noted the ASA’s long-standing relationship with FDI and emphasized that the World No Tobacco Day initiative was launched at the FDI’s initiative and has continued as a series of activities.

The conference brought tobacco cessation and prevention into the context of dental education and professional practice. Speakers highlighted the significant health risks associated with tobacco use and stressed that addressing tobacco use is a shared responsibility across healthcare and society.

Participants also viewed videos on tobacco control, including materials available through FDI and the World Health Organization, before hearing presentations from dental academics and specialists on the topic. The event concluded with discussion and a Q&A session, providing an opportunity for participants to exchange perspectives and strengthen their understanding of tobacco-related health risks.

Turning global priorities into local action

The experiences of Chinese Taipei and Azerbaijan demonstrate how FDI’s global tobacco cessation work can support dental organizations and professionals in developing locally relevant initiatives.

While the activities were independently organized by national dental and academic institutions, they drew on FDI resources, expertise and advocacy around the role of dentistry in tobacco cessation. From a large-scale professional workshop in Chinese Taipei to a World No Tobacco Day scientific conference in Azerbaijan, these initiatives show how the dental profession can bring tobacco prevention and cessation into education, professional development and everyday oral healthcare.

Together, they reinforce FDI’s vision of a dental profession that is not only treating the consequences of tobacco use, but actively contributing to its prevention and cessation, helping turn evidence and global resources into meaningful action at the local level.

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