In order to meet changing oral health needs and demands of the population worldwide, the continual search for new and improved methods of care is necessary. FDI therefore:

• supports the essential need for approval of research using humans, animals and their tissues by an appropriately recognized Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board
• encourages the close cooperation between the dental profession and the research community
• supports the concept of collaborative research groups within and between countries
• encourages the concept of practice-based dental research in order to apply scientific findings in the practice environment and to stimulate the interests of science in the issues and problems relevant to dental practice
• encourages the funding of dental research
• encourages research programmes in all of the sciences related to dentistry
• encourages academic and industry scientists to promote the development and standardization of high quality equipment, instruments, materials and therapeutic agents
• requests FDI National Dental Associations and health authorities to support or initiate research programmes and procedures that promote these objectives
• supports research designed to improve the organization of oral healthcare systems, delivery of healthcare, health education, undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development and interdisciplinary cooperation
• encourages the practicing profession to keep abreast of advances in science

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