Global Oral Health Policy and Japan’s Steps Toward the Future of Older Adults Care - The 6th International Dental Symposium

In order to create a framework for achieving oral health in an ageing society, the Japan Dental Association (JDA) and WHO held a World Dental Congress in 2015, where the Tokyo Declaration was issued. Then, with financial backing from GC, FDI launched the Oral Health for an Ageing Population (OHAP) project in 2016 to expand the role of oral health professionals in achieving healthy longevity. As of 2026, the program has continued for a full decade. We have shared our progress at annual OHAP symposiums at the World Dental Congress, noting that interest in this global public health challenge has been steadily growing.
In this presentation, I will explain how this project has evolved and what resources we have produced, with a strong focus on Season III (2024-2027). During this season, we produced an Advocacy Guide to help policymakers and dental associations learn from the oral health systems already implemented in other countries. In doing so, we hope to continue building global momentum for the promotion of oral health in older people.

The 8020 Campaign has substantially increased the number of remaining teeth among older adults in Japan. However, age-related decline in oral function has emerged as a critical issue. In response, the concept of oral frailty was proposed in Japan, emphasizing that even subtle declines in oral function may initiate a cascade leading to physical frailty and adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the introduction of insurance coverage for oral hypofunction has expanded the scope of dental care beyond the prevention and treatment of dental caries and periodontal disease to include functional management. Drawing on Japan’s experience, this lecture examines the clinical and public health significance of oral function management in ageing societies and discusses its implications for future oral health strategies.

Globally, the population is ageing with dramatic demographic shifts evident in many countries around the world. As our populations change, healthcare delivery needs evolve with many funding models becoming increasingly outdated and unsustainable. Alongside these changes to population structures, the oral health profile of older adults has also changed with many countries seeing a change from an edentate to a partially dentate older population. Whilst this is very positive, it does present the dental team with the challenges of managing ageing dentitions in patients who may also be suffering from a range of chronic systemic diseases. As we embrace the concept of “healthy ageing” this presentation will present pragmatic approaches to care, and draw on experiences from the United Kingdom and Ireland in delivering dental care for dependent older adults. The prevention and management of caries in older adults will be discussed in addition to simple tooth replacement strategies.