GENEVA: The future of restorative dentistry is set to take centre stage at the FDI World Dental Congress 2026, where global experts will examine how the profession can transition toward environmentally sustainable dental care while maintaining high standards of patient safety, clinical effectiveness and equitable access to treatment.
Among the major policy discussions planned for the congress is the global phase-down of dental amalgam, a long-established restorative material containing mercury, alongside the growing adoption of mercury-free alternatives and broader strategies to make dentistry more environmentally responsible. The discussions come at a time when governments, regulators and dental organisations worldwide are working to align oral healthcare with international environmental commitments while ensuring patients continue to receive safe, evidence-based treatment.
The congress will also review progress under FDI Vision 2030, the federation's global roadmap for transforming oral healthcare by integrating prevention, strengthening health systems, embracing innovation and promoting sustainability across the dental profession.
The international focus on dental amalgam follows growing momentum generated by the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global environmental treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution. Rather than calling for an immediate worldwide ban, the convention encourages countries to progressively reduce reliance on dental amalgam through preventive oral healthcare, expanded use of alternative restorative materials, improved dental education and responsible waste management.
The issue gained further prominence after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued policy guidance encouraging countries to support a gradual transition toward mercury-free direct dental restorations where clinically appropriate. WHO recommends increasing the availability of effective mercury-free materials while strengthening preventive oral healthcare to reduce the overall need for restorative treatment.
Experts note that the transition involves far more than replacing one filling material with another. It requires careful consideration of clinical performance, long-term durability, affordability, workforce training, patient-specific needs and access to appropriate restorative options, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where dental resources may be limited.
Environmental sustainability is also becoming an increasingly important priority within modern dentistry. Beyond restorative materials, the profession is exploring ways to reduce its environmental footprint through improved waste management, energy-efficient dental facilities, sustainable procurement, responsible infection-control practices and digital technologies that minimise unnecessary resource consumption without compromising patient care.
According to FDI, sustainable dentistry should balance environmental responsibility with high-quality, evidence-based clinical care. The organisation has consistently emphasised that policies designed to reduce environmental impact must continue to support patient safety, treatment effectiveness and equitable access to oral healthcare.
The scientific programme will also examine how innovation—including digital dentistry, artificial intelligence, advanced biomaterials and improved clinical workflows—can contribute to more sustainable dental practice while improving treatment outcomes. International experts are expected to share practical experiences from different healthcare systems, allowing policymakers, educators and clinicians to learn from successful implementation strategies.
For dental schools and continuing professional education providers, the evolving policy landscape is expected to accelerate curriculum changes that prepare future dentists to work with newer restorative materials, evidence-based treatment planning and environmentally responsible clinical practices. Many educators believe sustainability will increasingly become an integral component of dental education alongside patient safety, ethics and quality assurance.
The discussions carry particular significance for developing countries, where oral disease remains highly prevalent and healthcare systems must balance environmental commitments with affordability and access to essential dental services. FDI has repeatedly stressed that successful implementation requires flexibility, scientific evidence and support for countries facing different economic and healthcare realities.
As governments continue updating national oral health policies, the outcomes of these discussions could influence future regulatory frameworks, procurement policies, dental education standards and clinical practice worldwide. The congress is therefore expected to provide important direction for regulators, professional associations and clinicians preparing for the next phase of global oral healthcare.
With sustainability now firmly embedded in international oral health policy, the decisions and recommendations emerging from the FDI World Dental Congress 2026 may help shape how dentistry evolves over the coming decade—bringing together patient safety, scientific innovation and environmental responsibility in ways that could redefine everyday dental practice around the world.
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