On May 19, 2022, during the General Assembly of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, member organizations have welcomed 3 new members; the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), the European Network of Medical Residents in Public Health (EuroNet MRPH), and World Patients Alliance.
We look forward to working together towards our shared goals of protecting and promoting health & wellbeing worldwide.
On May 19, 2022, the WFPHA formally welcomes its new President Prof. Luis Eugenio de Souza. He will hold the role of President for the next two years.
Luis is a professor at the Federal University of Bahia and a leader in health equity and sustainable development!
On May 19, 2022, during the General Assembly of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, member organizations have elected Emma Rawson-Te Patu as President-elect. She will be the first Indigenous president of the WFPHA.
Emma is of the Māori tribal groups of Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai te Rangi, Raukawa and Ngāti Haua of New Zealand. She has been involved in Public Health, Hauora Māori (Māori health) for over 18 years.
Life expectancy has risen significantly across most countries over the past two decades, according to the World Health Organization Global Health Estimates. At the same time, older adults (particularly in countries such as the United States) are far more likely to retain their natural teeth into later life.
While this reflects progress in preventive dentistry, it also introduces new clinical and public health challenges. Without consistent and effective oral hygiene support, poor oral health can intensify systemic conditions and increase health risks, especially among residents of long-term care facilities.
This makes oral health care for the institutionalized elderly a growing global priority.
For elderly individuals in residential care, oral health is not a cosmetic issue; it is directly connected to chronic disease management and survival outcomes.
Research has linked inadequate oral hygiene with:
Worsening Type 2 diabetes
Increased risk and progression of dementia
Higher incidence of hospital-acquired and aspiration pneumonia
Greater levels of frailty
Residents in care homes are particularly vulnerable. Many depend on carers for daily hygiene routines, and compromised immune systems amplify the consequences of neglected oral care.
Why is oral health care important for institutionalized elderly people?
Poor oral hygiene can worsen diabetes, increase dementia risk, raise the likelihood of pneumonia, and contribute to frailty, particularly among elderly residents who rely on caregivers for daily support.
Several countries have formally acknowledged the gap in oral health provision within aged care systems.
In England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidelines addressing oral health for adults in care homes. This was followed by a review by the Care Quality Commission, which found that many care home owners and staff were unaware of how to ensure that residents’ daily oral hygiene met acceptable standards.
Subsequently, NHS England introduced the Framework for Enhanced Health in Care Homes, followed by a government-issued oral health toolkit for adults in care homes.
In the United States, the comprehensive Smiles for Life curriculum, developed by Smiles for Life, includes a geriatric dentistry module designed to strengthen clinical knowledge.
Earlier pilot initiatives had already demonstrated that structured intervention could improve outcomes. However, scaling those efforts remains an ongoing challenge.
Daily hygiene is only one component. Access to professional dental services remains a persistent obstacle in many care facilities.
Transport limitations, workforce shortages, and medical complexity often delay in-person dental visits. In response, teledentistry has emerged as a promising solution.
Recent implementations in:
France
Japan
Australia
have demonstrated that remote consultations can support preliminary diagnosis and clinical advice. Digital tools reduce unnecessary transfers while improving timely assessment.
How can teledentistry support oral health care for older adults in institutional settings?
Teledentistry enables remote consultation, preliminary diagnosis, and professional advice without requiring residents to travel, improving access and reducing delays in care.
Emerging technologies are further expanding possibilities.
Research on the evaluation of mobile phone images by off-site dental practitioners has demonstrated effectiveness in screening schoolchildren. Similar approaches can be adapted for aged care settings.
Additionally, real-time artificial intelligence tools, such as Smilio.ai, offer innovative, cost-efficient, and person-centred opportunities to screen for oral diseases in institutional settings.
These tools do not replace clinicians. Instead, they enhance early detection, streamline referrals, and make oral health care for institutionalized older adults more scalable.
Sustainable improvement depends on empowering those already providing daily care.
In the United Kingdom, Knowledge Oral Healthcare delivers oral health training to nurses, allied health professionals, and carers in the aged and disability sectors. In Australia, Seniors Dental Care Australia provides similar programs.
A notable systems-level intervention occurred within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where oral health care was integrated into inpatient services via the nursing workforce. Translating research into clinical practice resulted in measurable improvements in oral hygiene and significant reductions in hospital-acquired pneumonia.
This model demonstrates that embedding oral health responsibilities into existing care frameworks can yield substantial public health gains.
Policy reform is often accelerated through coordinated advocacy.
In Australia, twelve key stakeholder organizations (including the Public Health Association of Australia and the Australian Dental Association) issued a joint media release on World Oral Health Day, prior to the federal election, calling for stronger aged-care oral health strategies.
The Australian Dental Association’s “Stop the Rot” campaign further highlights the need for systemic reform in aged care.
Media engagement has also played a role. The Australian Health Journal released a World Oral Health Day video advocating for the prioritisation of oral health in aged care and disability services.
As life expectancy increases and more older adults retain their natural dentition, oral health demands will intensify rather than decline.
Improving oral health care for the institutionalized elderly requires coordinated effort from:
Governments
Aged care providers
Dental practitioners
Nurses and allied health professionals
Consumer and advocacy organizations
Innovation in teledentistry, mobile imaging, and artificial intelligence offers meaningful opportunities. However, technology alone cannot resolve systemic gaps. Policy alignment, workforce training, and sustained political commitment remain essential.
The evidence is clear: oral health is inseparable from general health. For elderly residents in institutional care, neglecting the mouth risks compromising the whole person.
Ensuring high-quality oral health care for the institutionalized elderly is fundamental to maintaining dignity, preventing disease, and achieving equitable health outcomes in ageing societies.
By Kenneth Eaton & Leonie Short
The World Federation of Public Health Associations is currently looking for a Communication Officer (30%) for the International Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
The WFPHA is an international, non-profit, nongovernmental organization composed of over 130 associations member, mostly multidisciplinary national public health associations, and representing around 5 million public health professionals worldwide. WFPHA is accredited as an NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Federation is also accredited to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), holds consultation status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and holds observer status with Codex Alimentarius of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Communications Officer (30%) will be responsible for developing, leading, and implementing the scientific communication strategy for the World Congress on Public Health.
Key Responsibilities
Qualification and Experience
Location
In-person or remote with one-week full time in Rome, Italy, in May 2023.
Period
Starts as soon as possible for 12 months.
Application Deadline
15 May 2022 (Midnight, CEST)
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for the position, please send your CV and motivation letter to Dr Marta Lomazzi: marta.lomazzi@wfpha.org
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