World Oral Health Day Awards
Criteria for eligibility
FDI relies on the power of local and national campaigns to activate World Oral Health Day (WOHD) globally. Every year on or around 20 March, hundreds of events are organized around the world in celebration of WOHD. Empowered by a common goal to reduce the burden of oral diseases, the oral health community comes together year after year to organize free dental check-ups, school activities, educational lectures, awareness walks, flash mobs, and more in the name of WOHD.
FDI commends the hard work of WOHD enthusiasts across the world and wants to let them know that their efforts are valued. This is why, every year, FDI gives out the World Oral Health Day Awards to recognize those who organized the most outstanding campaigns. The awards are divided in six categories to reward the work of FDI members, students, and the public.
In order to be considered for an award, participants must submit an activity report after 20 March on the WOHD webiste.
The award categories
National Dental Associations
The following two categories are for FDI Members only (i.e. National Dental Associations, or other organizations, with some type of membership – see full list here).
Exception: Student associations are excluded from these two categories – even if they hold FDI membership – as they are addressed exclusively in two other categories further below.
This award recognizes hands-on contributions to increase oral health literacy among the public through school programmes, educational lectures, awareness campaigns, etc. The evaluation is based on the following criteria:
- Number of activities (including their complexity and variety)
- Number of participants (served members of the community and partner organizations)
- Collaboration with government officials
- Distribution of take-home resources for oral health literacy
- National impact through traditional or online media coverage
- Use of the WOHD theme and/or materials
- Event submission to global WOHD map
This award recognizes WOHD campaigns that generate significant buzz in traditional or online media, highlighting oral health messages across a range of platforms such as newspaper, television, radio, blogs, social media, etc. The evaluation is based on the following criteria:
- Number of participants at press conference, if organized
- Number of news articles generated by activities (promotion and coverage)
- Traditional media reach (circulation of print publications, audience numbers of TV/radio shows)
- Online media reach (number of social media posts and reach, unique page visits to online articles)
- Dissemination of WOHD press release and social media assets (messages, memes, hashtags)
- Use of WOHD theme and/or other materials
- Event submission to global WOHD map
International Association of Dental Students
The following two categories are for student organizations members of the International Association of Dental Students (IADS) only – FDI’s representative student association.
FDI encourages all student associations to join IADS, as they are the only worldwide association representing over 200,00 dental students (see full list of members here).
This award recognizes WOHD activities that made a lasting impression because they were unique in promoting oral health messages among the public. The evaluation is based on the following criteria:
- Number of participants (served members of the community)
- Collaboration with external partners (schools, hospitals, government, industry, shopping centers)
- Innovation and originality in the activity
- Novelty and authenticity in the use of the WOHD brand
- Impact through dissemination of take-home messages and/or oral care items
- Use of the WOHD theme and/or materials
- Event submission to global WOHD map
This award recognizes campaigns that successfully put WOHD on the digital spotlight and engage people to join the conversation on oral health and share the campaign messages on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The evaluation is based on the following criteria:
- Number of social media posts
- Number of post engagement
- Number of post reach
- Appropriate use of WOHD hashtags (and other relevant hashtags)
- Appealing content adapted for each platform
- Influencers engaged
- Dissemination of provided WOHD social media assets (memes, cover photos, pre-maid posts)
- Event submission to global WOHD map
The public
The following category is open to all groups and individuals – not associated with FDI – organizing a WOHD event (i.e. the general public, non-member organizations, etc.). To be considered for the award, participants should submit their activity reports to the global events map following WOHD here).
This award celebrates the best use of the WOHD brand in a single snapshot, visually engaging the audience and inspiring others to also show they are advocates of oral health. The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
- Use of WOHD logo
- Use of WOHD theme
- Innovation and originality in the use of the WOHD brand
- Visibility of other WOHD materials at event (posters, brochures, etc.)
- Good quality photo (1200 x 1800 pixels)
- Event submission to global WOHD map
Recognizes campaigns that reach out to local communities and educate them about the importance of oral and overall health.
Award criteria*:
- Number and variety of activities and their reach, i.e. number of participants
- Display and distribution of WOHD materials
- Social media messaging and engagement
- External collaboration, e.g. cross-sector, national association, schools
The prize
After 20 March, FDI collects activity reports from all three audiences (members, students and the public) to determine the winners for each category. Recommendations are then made to the WOHD Task Team – a group of oral health experts guiding and supervising the campaign – who will vote for the winners based on the above criteria. The winners are informed, usually in May, and the announcement is made public at the World Dental Congress in September.
The prize for members and student associations includes:
- One free registration to attend the World Dental Congress
- Roundtrip flight and accommodation for the full duration of the congress
- A certificate of recognition
The prize for the public includes:
- A certificate of recognition
- WOHD merchandise (goodie bags, t-shirts, caps, stickers, USB keys, pens)
For more information on the WOHD awards, contact wohd@fdiworlddental.org.