A new definition for oral health developed by the fdi world dental federation opens the door to a universal definition of oral health

KEY POINTS * This editorial first published in the _Journal of the American Dental Association_ presents the new definition of oral health. * Discusses why a new definition of oral health

was a necessary part of the FDI World Dental Federation's Vision 2020. * Presents a companion framework for the new definition of oral health. ABSTRACT This article first published as

an editorial in the _Journal of the American Dental Association_ presents the FDI World Dental Federation's universal definition of oral health. This new definition was approved in

September 2016 and developed as as part of the FDI's advocacy and strategic plan – Vision 2020. You have full access to this article via your institution. Download PDF SIMILAR CONTENT

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DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON ORAL HEALTH AND PATHOLOGIES IN VULNERABLE MIGRANT ADOLESCENTS FROM NORTH AND WEST AFRICA Article Open access 27 January 2025 MAIN On September 6, 2016, a new definition

of oral health was overwhelmingly approved by the FDI World Dental Federation General Assembly. This was a key part of the organisation's advocacy and strategic plan – Vision 2020.1 The

definition, together with a companion framework, creates an opportunity for the profession to reflect on what oral health encompasses and what the implications are of this definition for

clinical practice and oral health policy. But why was a new definition needed? Although oral health has been recognised for millennia to be an essential component of overall health and

well-being, it has not been clear whether oral health has meant the same thing for different components of our profession and for our stakeholders. And if we are uncertain as a profession

what we mean, how can we explain ourselves clearly to our patients, other health care professionals, policy makers, and those others we seek to collaborate with and inform? A common

definition can bring stakeholders together to advocate for the importance of oral health; to influence and shape parameters of care, health policies, research, education, and reimbursement

models; and to shape the future of our profession. During the creation of FDI's Vision 2020,1 it became evident that there was a need for a universally accepted definition of oral

health, one that conveys that oral health is a fundamental human right and that facilitates the inclusion of oral health in all policies. To accomplish this goal, the FDI charged a newly

created think tank with producing such a definition. A definition was needed that included the full scope of health and well-being and, ultimately, one that could be agreed on by all.

Traditionally, oral health has been defined as the absence of disease. This definition fails to account for a person's values, perceptions, and expectations. Furthermore, existing

definitions of oral health mostly lack a theoretical framework that can be used to address all of the domains and elements that are part of oral health. The new definition acknowledges the

multifaceted nature and attributes of oral health (Box 1). Alongside the proposed concise definition, a companion framework was developed to describe the complex interactions among the three

core elements of oral health (disease and condition status, physiological function, and psychosocial function), a range of driving determinants (elements that influence and determine oral

health), moderating factors (factors that determine or affect how a person scores his or her oral health), and, finally, overall health and well-being (Figure 1). (A powerpoint version of

the new definition of oral health and its accompanying framework can be downloaded at http://www.fdiworldental.org/oral-health/vision-2020/a-new-definition-of-oral-health.aspx.) In addition

to the creation of a theoretical framework, there are several other advantages associated with adoption of this new definition of oral health. The new definition: * Echoes definitions used

by the World Health Organisation (WHO), national dental associations worldwide, and many other organisations and is, therefore, not a revolution but an evolution of existing definitions *

Moves dentistry from treating disease to providing care and support for oral health * Uses language that resonates with language commonly used in the healthcare realm—words and concepts that

health care professionals across disciplines can understand and use * Raises awareness of the different dimensions of oral health and emphasises that oral health does not occur in isolation

but is embedded in the wider framework of overall health. FDI represents more than one million dentists through its more than 200 national dental associations in more than 130 countries; it

represents dentistry at WHO and is a member of the World Health Professions Alliance and the Supporters Consultation Group of the Non-Communicable Disease Alliance.2 The creation of this

new definition of oral health and the accompanying framework is intended to be used by all stakeholders and builds on the WHO's Commission on Social Determinants of Health report.3

Accordingly, patients, practicing dentists, academicians, researchers, politicians, third-party payers, industry partners, and medical providers were consulted and included in the creation

of the definition. Efforts are under way to assess and measure this new definition of oral health, and work in the United States has started, as demonstrated by the American Dental

Association Health Policy Institute.4 We now have a definition of oral health that will enable a conversation that creates a common understanding when addressing the needs of people and

communities and when making the case for the importance of optimal oral health for all. Let's get started. BDJ _Editor's note: The in brief and abstract sections of this article

have been added by the_ BDJ _Editor and were not part of the original_ JADA _article_. _ORCID Number. Michael Glick: _http://orcid.org/0000000342365385. BOX 1: DEFINITION OF ORAL HEALTH Oral

health is multifaceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without

pain, discomfort, and disease of the craniofacial complex. Further attributes of oral health: * • It is a fundamental component of health and physical and mental well-being. It exists along

a continuum influenced by the values and attitudes of people and communities. * • It reflects the physiological, social, and psychological attributes that are essential to the quality of

life. * • It is influenced by the person's changing experiences, perceptions, expectations, and ability to adapt to circumstances. REFERENCES * Glick M, Monteiro da Silva M, Seeberger G

K et al. FDI Vision 2020: shaping the future of oral health. _Int Dent J_ 2012; 62: 278–291. Article  Google Scholar  * World Dental Federation. FDI in brief. Available online at

http://www.fdiworldental.org/about-fdi/fdi-in-brief/fdi-in-brief.aspx (accessed October 2016). * World Health Organization. Commission on Social Determinants of Health: final report.

Available online at http://www.who.int/social_determinants/thecommissionfinalreport/en/ (accessed October 2016). * American Dental Association Health Policy Institute. Oral health and

well-being in the United States. Available online at http://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/oral-health-and-well-being (accessed October 2016). Download references

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 'This editorial, published in JADA, Vol 147, issue 12, Glick M, Williams DM, Kleinman DV, Vujicic M, Watt RG, Weyant RJ, A new definition for oral health developed by

the FDI World Dental Federation opens the door to a universal definition of oral health, 915917, doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.10.001 © ADA (2016) is reprinted from The Journal of the American

Dental Association, with permission from the American Dental Association to help disseminate the new definition of oral health to as broad an audience as possible'. Editorials represent

the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the American Dental Association. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * William M. Feagans Chair, School of Dental Medicine,

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, Editor of The Journal of the American Dental Association, M. Glick * Professor, Global Oral Health, Institute of

Dentistry, Bart's and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London, D. M. Williams * Professor, School of Public Health, University of Maryland,

College Park, D. V. Kleinman * Chief Economist and Vice President, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, M. Vujicic * Department of Epidemiology and Public

Health, Professor and the Chair, University College London, London, R. G. Watt * Department of Dental Public Health, Professor and the Chair, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA., R. J.

Weyant Authors * M. Glick View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * D. M. Williams View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * D. V. Kleinman View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * M. Vujicic View author publications You can also search for

this author inPubMed Google Scholar * R. G. Watt View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * R. J. Weyant View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to M. Glick. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Glick,

M., Williams, D., Kleinman, D. _et al._ A new definition for oral health developed by the FDI World Dental Federation opens the door to a universal definition of oral health. _Br Dent J_

221, 792–793 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.953 Download citation * Published: 16 December 2016 * Issue Date: 16 December 2016 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.953

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