Representatives from WHO Member States have adopted the “Bangkok Declaration – No Health Without Oral Health” at the WHO Global Oral Health Meeting held in Thailand from November 26 to 29, 2024. The declaration acknowledges the extensive unmet oral health needs and establishes three reference targets for achieving Universal Health Coverage for oral health by 2030, addressing the crisis that affects 3.5 billion people worldwide.

Key commitments include ensuring that 80% of the global population has access to essential oral healthcare services as part of national Universal Health Coverage packages, reducing the combined prevalence of major oral diseases by 10%, and implementing measures that decrease free sugar intake in 50% of countries by 2030. The declaration emphasizes the urgent need to address the social determinants of oral health and their interconnection with other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The declaration advocates for sustainable financing, enhanced health systems, and environmentally responsible practices, including the phase-down of mercury-containing dental amalgam. A new Global Coalition on Oral Health will facilitate implementation through knowledge sharing and coordinated advocacy.

This historic agreement precedes the 4th United Nations (UN) High-level Meeting on NCDs in 2025, positioning oral health as a vital component of universal health coverage and sustainable development.