FDI organized a pivotal workshop at its headquarters in Geneva, bringing together the Oral Health Observatory (OHO) Task Team and distinguished experts from the Chinese Stomatological Association (CSA). Over two days, this collaborative workshop aimed to examine key findings of oral health data collected in China using FDI’s Oral Health Observatory (OHO) mobile application, and how this data could inform oral health policies and advocacy initiatives.

The OHO project, launched in 2014, is a global project that gathers standardized data on oral health through dental practices, utilizing a user-friendly mobile application. The project allows dentists worldwide to collect data on patient behaviours, clinical variables, oral health and its impact on quality of life. To date, data had been collected in 10 countries, with six reaching advanced stages of analysis.

Dr Michael Sereny, Chair of the OHO Task Team, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Reliable oral health data is essential in guiding effective public health interventions. The OHO provides a robust framework for collecting standardized oral health data, which is crucial for developing evidence-based strategies to improve global oral health outcomes.”

The workshop featured contributions from leading Chinese dental experts, including Dr Liu Yi and Dr Si Yan, who shared insights from China's participation in the OHO. Their experiences highlighted the adaptability of the OHO model to diverse healthcare settings and the potential for making evidence-based improvements in patient outcomes, and informing oral health advocacy initiatives. 

Dr Liu Yi said “participating in the OHO has been instrumental in comparing China's oral health data collection with international standards. This collaboration fosters a deeper understanding of oral health among the Chinese population.”

Dr Si Yan added that “the OHO's emphasis on patient-level data collection empowers dental professionals to build evidence necessary to make informed clinical decisions in daily practice, and to construct advocacy initiatives.”

This workshop underscored OHO's role in fostering international collaboration and advancing oral health policies and advocacy. Such workshops have previously been conducted with dental associations from India, Colombia, and Lebanon. The project continues to offer a model for collecting standardized data in routine dental practice, informing oral health policies and advocacy activities, and paving the way for improving patient outcomes worldwide.

Dr Michael Sereny will lead another hands-on workshop at the FDI World Dental Congress in Shanghai on 10 September (14:00-16:00). This workshop aims to gather experts from countries who are actively participating in the OHO project to share best practices, and offer peer learning opportunities. The FDI World Dental Congress will take place from 9–12 September in Shanghai, China.

The Oral Health Observatory project is supported by HALEON.