A new definition for oral health developed by the FDI World Dental Federation opens the door to a universal definition of oral health
On September 6, 2016, a new definition of oral health was overwhelmingly approved by the FDI World Dental Federation General Assembly. This was a key part of the organization’s advocacy and strategic plan—Vision 2020.1 The definition, together with a companion framework, creates an opportunity for the profession to reflect on what oral health encompasses and what the implications are of this definition for clinical practice and oral health policy. But why was a new definition needed?