World Dental Federation (FDI) Releases Decade-Long Data Report: 29.0% of Chinese Respondents Affected by Oral Appearance in Job Interviews

Source: Oral Health Observatory (OHO) Ten-Year Data: Evidence, Impact, and the Path Forward

DentalGoodNews｜On July 17, 2026, the World Dental Federation (FDI) released a report titled "Oral Health Observatory (OHO) Decade of Data: Evidence, Impact, and the Path Forward." This report aggregates dental health data from over 10,000 patients across more than 12 countries over the past decade.

According to the report, the Oral Health Observatory (OHO) project was launched in 2014 to address the global gap in oral health information through standardized data. The report indicates that patients in the surveyed countries commonly face issues such as oral pain, difficulty eating, and sleep disturbances. In China, although 79% of patients brush their teeth more than twice daily, the rate of periodontal disease remains as high as 62.2%, and 88.6% of patients seeking treatment lack dental insurance, leading many to only seek care in emergency situations.

Source: Oral Health Observatory (OHO) Ten-Year Data: Evidence, Impact, and the Path Forward

The data further reveals that oral diseases impose significant socioeconomic costs. In China, 18.8% of working professionals have missed work due to oral issues, with an average absence of 4.3 days; 29.0% of respondents reported that their oral appearance affected their job interview prospects. Regarding the treatment gap, for every tooth filled in China, 1.2 untreated dental caries remain.

According to previous reports by DENTALGOODNEWS (Leading Dental Industry Media, DGN), the FDI has repeatedly called on global health systems to integrate oral health data into electronic health records to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and improve patient care outcomes. This report reiterates the need to strengthen professional periodontal care and align OHO data with national health information systems to support evidence-based decision-making and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The FDI noted in the report that, in the future, the OHO project will focus on expanding participation and enhancing the capacity of national dental associations to translate data into policy actions.