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Sheffield, UK – 19 September 2024 – Leading experts from across the UK and international organizations gathered at Sheffield Hallam University for the first-ever “Design for Oral Health: Seminar and Workshop,” a pioneering event exploring how co-design can offer innovative solutions to tackle the global burden of oral diseases.
Hosted by Lab4Living, a world-renowned research lab based at Sheffield Hallam, and led by Professor Sara Baker (University of Sheffield), Dr. Farnaz Nickpour (University of Liverpool), Professor Rebecca Wassall (Newcastle University), and Dr. Rachael England (FDI World Dental Federation), the one-day seminar brought together oral health professionals, designers, researchers, and policymakers to address one of the world’s most pressing, yet neglected, public health challenges.
A Global Health Challenge Needing New Approaches
Oral diseases affect an estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite being largely preventable, these conditions remain a leading cause of pain, disability, and poor quality of life—particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
The seminar emphasized the urgent need to move from a corrective to a preventative approach in oral health, calling for co-design methodologies that empower communities, patients, and professionals to collaboratively shape effective, inclusive solutions.
Showcasing Real-World Co-Design in Oral Health
Four ground-breaking case studies were presented, demonstrating how co-design can successfully address diverse oral health challenges:
- Improving Oral Health of Older People in Care Homes (TOPIC Study) – A feasibility study led by Prof. Rebecca Wassall (Newcastle University) and Dr. Joe Langley (Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam).
- Whole Mouth Health – A global oral health literacy and behavior change initiative by FDI World Dental Federation, presented by Dr. Rachael England.
- Co-design of Population Indicators for Oral Health (Public Health Wales) – Presented by Prof. Paul Brocklehurst (Bangor University), focusing on developing community-informed oral health indicators.
- Mapping Design in Oral Health – Exploring design’s role in oral health innovation, presented by Isobel Leason, Dr. Nicholas Longridge, and Dr. Farnaz Nickpour (University of Liverpool).
Next Steps: A White Paper to Influence Global Policy
Building on the success of the seminar, partners are now developing a white paper, titled “Co-Designing Solutions for Better Oral Health: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Global Challenges.”
Set to be published by the FDI World Dental Federation, the paper will showcase co-design as a model for transforming oral health practice and policy. Crucially, it will address key objectives outlined in the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030, including the call to forge strategic partnerships and foster community action to reduce health inequalities.
The white paper is intended for submission to the WHO, with the aim of shaping future global oral health strategies and encouraging widespread adoption of co-design approaches.
About Lab4Living
Lab4Living is a transdisciplinary research group based at Sheffield Hallam University, working at the intersection of design, healthcare, and wellbeing, with a focus on co-design and participatory approaches to improve lives.
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Lab4Living
Email: lab4living@shu.ac.uk
Website: www.lab4living.org.uk