IFDH eNews: October 2025
Member News
Australia
The Oral Health Association of Australia (OHAA) was officially launched on July 1, 2025, establishing a unified national body representing Oral Health practitioners, with more than 2,800 members joining in its first months. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Dental Hygiene education in Australia, a significant milestone that reflects the enduring growth and contribution of the profession. In October 2025, OHAA will convene its inaugural national Congress on the Gold Coast under the theme Opening Horizons Across Australia, providing a platform to advance innovation, collaboration, and the future direction of oral health practice.
Canada
Navigating Sustainability: Check out our webinar ($25) that addresses the daunting task of navigating sustainability. Simple changes, combined with the dental hygiene community's extensive reach and influence, present a unique opportunity to adopt more sustainable practices and improve oral health outcomes. After watching the webinar, consider taking a free complementary three-hour online course on sustainability in dentistry from FDI World Dental Federation and access other great resources.
Czech Republic
Czech Dental Hygienists Association New Activities
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we invited members to join our Five Challenges Campaign which included collecting photos of smiles, sharing stories about DH, and honoring legends or giving time (25 hours) to others. We also hosted the Annual General Meeting of the European Dental Hygienists Federation (EDHF) in Prague on September 19–20th for the second time.
Israel
The Israeli Dental Hygienists' Association is committed to promoting the professional, academic, and ethical standards of Dental Hygienists across the country. The association represents Hygienists in national forums, advocates for the expansion of their professional authority, and raises public awareness about the importance of preventive oral care. Throughout the year, we organize scientific conferences, including our annual conference. We continue to provide professional enrichment through webinars via Zoom and at Dental congresses. On March 8, we celebrated International Women’s Day with an empowering professional gathering. In mid-June, we will launch a new Social Responsibility program aimed at enhancing oral health education among the elderly population. Through ongoing education, advocacy, and outreach, we continue to strengthen the role of Dental Hygienists within Israel’s healthcare system.
Japan
Promoting Oral Health Awareness Among Children
"Children's Tour Day in Kasumigaseki" is an annual summer event where Japanese government ministries and agencies showcase their work to children. The event aims to help children learn about society, understand government policies, and enjoy time with their parents through various activities. Kasumigaseki is the area where most of Japan’s government ministries are located. Children of all ages, from kindergarten to high school, can participate. The Japan Dental Hygienists’ Association (JDHA) took part in this event held in August.
We also implemented three programs under the theme "Good Health from Good Oral Health" at the booth of the Oral Health Division of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, including:
- “Challenge Your Mouth Power!” is a goldfish scooping game, where players lift illustrated goldfish by inhaling through a straw, and a blowgun game, where players knock down paper cup targets.
- “Check Your Bite and Alignment!” using gummies and smartphones.
- “Discover Bacteria in Your Mouth” such as saliva and dental plaque!
- We also introduced fluoride mouthwash and other oral health items and distributed samples to participants.
A total of 624 people participated in the two-day event, making it a great success. It was a good opportunity to teach children about the mouth and oral functions and introduce them to the Dental Hygienist profession.
Korea
In June 2025, the Korean Dental Hygienists Association (KDHA) elected its 20th Executive Board. Jeong-Ran Park, Chair of the ISDH2024 Organizing Committee, was elected as the new President. This marks the beginning of a new leadership that will guide the strategic direction of the Association and further strengthen international collaboration. (Photo left to right) Ji-Hyung Han, Vice President; Eun-Mi Yoo, Vice President; Geum-Ja Park, Chair of the Election Committee; Jeong-Ran Park, President; Kyung-Hee Kang, Vice President; Ki-Ha Jeon, Vice President.
Subsequently, KDHA successfully hosted its 47th Annual Academic Conference on July 5–6, 2025, in Seoul, under the theme “The Future of Dental Hygienists.” With more than 1,000 participants in attendance, the conference featured 23 academic lectures and 41 research presentations. Together, they highlighted the latest progress in education, clinical practice, and research in the field of dental hygiene.