FDI has launched a new project to strengthen the role of oral health professionals in the global fight against human papillomavirus (HPV). The initiative responds to a growing international need to address HPV-related oral diseases and better integrate oral health services into national HPV prevention frameworks. 

A new global effort to address an urgent public health need

HPV remains one of the most widespread viral infections worldwide and a leading cause of cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women and the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with an estimated 600,000 new cases and 340,000 deaths annually^1,2.

However, HPV’s impact extends well beyond cervical cancer. The virus contributes to oral cancers, warts, and other lesions in the mouth. This makes the integration of HPV prevention into oral health essential. Dental professionals are increasingly recognized as key contributors to awareness-raising, early detection, and addressing long-standing fragmentation between HPV prevention and oral healthcare services.

Why oral health professionals matter

Oral health professioanals are often the first, and sometimes the only, providers to examine the oral tissues where HPV-related lesions may appear. This positions them to play an important role in early detection, patient education, risk assessment, and timely referral. Their involvement is therefore critical to both cancer prevention and broader public health outreach.

FDI President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolai Sharkov emphasized this point: “Oral health professionals must take on a more central role in HPV prevention. They see patients who may have little or no contact with other parts of the health system, creating valuable opportunities. Through this new project, FDI is committed to empowering the profession with the knowledge, tools, and policy support needed to advance this work, raise global awareness and move toward a more integrated and equitable approach to HPV prevention.”

Toward a more integrated and equitable approach

The project aims to strengthen national capacity and expand the role of oral health professionals in HPV prevention. FDI will conduct a comprehensive global survey among its members to map existing HPV policies, identify gaps, and gather baseline data. This assessment will explore current strategies, the level of integration with oral health services, educational needs, and regional differences. The results will guide the development of targeted advocacy and awareness tools that advance FDI’s broader goal of embedding oral health within national HPV policies.

By tacklong long-standing gaps between oral health and HPV prevention, this initiative will reinforces advocacy, supports evidence-based policy recommendations, and elevates the contribution of oral health professionals worldwide. By addressing limited integration, regional disparities, and gaps in training, it positions dentists as essential partners in reducing HPV-related cancers and works to ensure that oral health is formally recognized within national prevention frameworks. Together, these efforts aim to reduce HPV-related cancers and strengthen more equitable public health systems globally.

Resources timeline

All resources will be developed under the guidance of the HPV Task Team and will be available through the project webpage in 2026.

This initiative is supported by a grant from MSD (Merck & Co., known as MSD outside the United States and Canada).

References

1. Miazga W, Tatara T, Gujski M, Pinkas J, Ostrowski J, Religioni U. Global Guidelines and Trends in HPV Vaccination for Cervical Cancer Prevention. Med Sci Monitor. 2025;24(31):e947173.
2. Bruni L, Saura-Lázaro A, Montoliu A, et al. HPV vaccination introduction worldwide and WHO and UNICEF estimates of national HPV immunization coverage 2010–2019. Preventive Medicine. 2021; 1(44):106399.