The General Assembly (GA) is FDI’s highest decision-making body, responsible for setting the organization’s policies, strategic plan, and overall mission. It meets annually to approve the budget, establish membership subscriptions, review reports from the Council, and elect Regular, Associate, Affiliate, and Supporting Members, as well as Committee and Council representatives.

The GA convened in Shanghai in September 2025, bringing together representatives from over 80 countries to shape the organization’s direction for the year ahead. Alongside the election of new Council and Committee members, National Dental Associations (NDAs) were also welcomed into FDI’s membership.

The newly accepted members are:

• Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association – Regular Member
• Bahrain Dental Society – Regular Member

In addition to welcoming new members, the GA voted on a series of new and updated policy statements, which are now available on the FDI website in English, French, German and Spanish. These statements address a range of critical topics shaping global oral health, including:

1. Advertising in Dentistry
2. Alignment of oral health care with ISO Standards
3. Caries management with Silver Diamine Fluoride
4. Digital Dentistry
5. Electronic Health Records
6. Noma – eradicating a preventable disease to save lives
7. Specialization in Dentistry
8. The Role of Supervision in Dentistry
9. The Use of Topical Fluoride for Caries Prevention

FDI Policy Statements serve as an important advocacy tool to help advance oral health worldwide. Member NDAs are encouraged to use these statements to support their national advocacy efforts and adapt them to their local context.