CE programme
In Person

Oral Health Beyond the Mouth

2026 SADA Dental & Oral Health Congress and Exhibition

Location

South Africa, Africa

Speaker

Dr Dasom Kim

Dasom Kim, DDS, MPH is a dentist and public health professional with a strong interest in global oral health policy, health systems, and international collaboration. She serves in multiple leadership roles within national and international dental organizations and is an elected member of the Membership Liaison and Support Committee of the FDI World Dental Federation.
With a multicultural background shaped by living and working across diverse regions, Dr. Kim brings an intergenerational and cross-cultural perspective to dentistry, connecting people, ideas, and systems to advance equitable and sustainable oral health.

Organizer

South African Dental Association

Abstract :

Oral health is increasingly recognized as part of overall health, yet dentistry often remains separate from wider healthcare. Evidence links oral disease with noncommunicable diseases, nutrition, ageing, function, and quality of life, challenging traditional boundaries.

This presentation explores connections between oral and systemic health across the life course, including shared risk factors, oral function and diet, and the role of collaboration between dental and medical teams. It also considers how health literacy, digital tools, and new care models shape access and understanding.

Rather than expanding dentists’ roles into medicine, the session focuses on recognizing when issues extend beyond the mouth, improving communication, and supporting integrated, preventive, person-centred care. Drawing on research and clinical examples, it reframes oral health as integral to whole-person wellbeing.

Learning objectives :

  • Explain key connections between oral health and overall health, including shared risk factors, noncommunicable diseases, nutrition, functional ability, and healthy ageing.
  • Recognize clinical situations in which oral health concerns may extend beyond the mouth and identify opportunities for appropriate communication, referral, or collaboration with other health professionals.
  • Describe how health literacy, digital technologies, and evolving models of care influence access to and engagement with oral healthcare.
  • Identify practical ways dentists can contribute to more integrated, preventive, and person-centred care within their everyday clinical practice.