At the FDI World Dental Congress in Prague, FDI President Assist. Prof. Dr Nikolai Sharkov presented the 2026 Smile Grant awards to the Hellenic Dental Association and the New Zealand Dental Association, recognizing two projects that are tackling oral health inequalities in creative and practical ways.

Supported by Colgate, the FDI Smile Grant celebrates community-based initiatives led by national dental associations that make oral health promotion and prevention more accessible to those who need it most.

This year’s winning projects demonstrate how innovative approaches, from a mobile dental unit and children’s theatre to supervised toothbrushing in special schools, can help turn prevention into an everyday reality.

Greece: Taking oral health on the road

What started in Crete in 2011 has grown into a wide-reaching programme that brings oral health education and preventive care directly to children and communities.

The Hellenic Dental Association’s “Dr. Beaver, the Tooth Master” programme uses a mobile dental unit to visit around 130 schools every year, reaching approximately 5,500 children with preventive examinations, fluoride applications and practical advice on toothbrushing and healthy nutrition.

The programme has found a particularly engaging way to capture children’s attention: a colourful story about “Dr. Beaver, the Tooth Master” has been transformed into theatrical performances, accompanied by storybooks and oral health materials. More than 30,000 copies of the story have been distributed since 2022, while performances have reached over 20,000 children across Crete.

The programme is designed to include everyone. Performances can be adapted for children with disabilities and other special needs, with specialized educators helping ensure that every child can take part.

And the mobile unit does not stop at schools. In collaboration with Doctors of the Aegean, the programme travels to remote islands where access to dental care can be limited, extending preventive and basic dental services to children and adults, including older people.

With long-term public funding and strong collaboration between dental professionals, regional authorities and communities, the programme has become more than a local initiative. Its success is prompting other regions in Greece to explore how the model could be adapted to their own communities.

New Zealand: Making toothbrushing work for every child

For some children and young people, developing a regular toothbrushing routine can be a significant challenge. Sensory sensitivities, physical limitations, difficulties with coordination or challenges with sequencing everyday tasks can all make effective brushing harder.

The New Zealand Dental Association’s Supervised Electric Toothbrushing Programme is designed with these realities in mind.

The initiative brings toothbrushing into the school day for students attending high-needs and special care schools, providing electric toothbrushes and supervised daily practice in an environment where children already feel comfortable and supported.

A key strength of the programme is its collaboration with occupational therapists, teachers and dental professionals. Together, they help adapt brushing to individual needs, from grip and posture to sensory tolerance and task sequencing.

The goal is not simply to improve brushing technique, but to help students become more comfortable, confident and capable of managing an important part of their daily self-care.

First developed in Auckland, the programme is now being extended to additional special schools across New Zealand. By working within existing school routines and infrastructure, the approach is designed to be practical, sustainable and scalable, helping more children with additional needs benefit from effective daily prevention.

Innovation that meets people where they are

The 2026 Smile Grant winners demonstrate that there is no single route to improving oral health.

In Greece, a mobile dental unit travels across schools and remote islands, using education and storytelling to bring prevention to communities. In New Zealand, oral health professionals, educators and occupational therapists are working together to make a simple daily habit achievable for children who may otherwise struggle to maintain it.

Despite their different approaches, both projects share a commitment to equity, prevention and lasting behaviour change. Most importantly, they start with the needs of the people they serve and find practical ways to make better oral health possible.

Congratulations to the Hellenic Dental Association and the New Zealand Dental Association on their achievements, and on the positive difference they are making in the lives of children, families and communities.

Applications for the 2027 cycle are now open with a deadline of February 1, 2027. 

Learn more about the FDI Smile Grant here: 

FDI Smile Grant