J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2025 Mar;49(1):1-2. 10.11149/jkaoh.2025.49.1.1.

Looking forward to new challenges and hopeful changes

• Kwon HK

• KMID: 2566554
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2025.49.1.1

Abstract

The Korean Academy of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Health (KAPDOH) has been dedicated to improving the nation’s oral health for over half a century. However, with the rapid societal changes of today, KAPDOH is also encountering new challenges. Demographic shifts, including a declining birth rate and rapid population aging, are reshaping national oral health priorities. In the 1980s, dental caries among school-age children was a major public health concern; however, oral health issues among older adults are now emerging as a significant societal challenge. In the past, addressing children’s oral health primarily involved the relatively straightforward task of preventing dental caries. In contrast, ensuring oral health in older adults requires a broader academic focus, encompassing the prevention of dental caries and periodontitis, improvement of chewing function, and prevention of pneumonia in older adults hospitalized for long periods in nursing hospitals. Tackling these issues necessitates close collaboration and interdisciplinary research. A defining characteristic of the 21st century is the blurring of boundaries between disciplines. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought about transformative changes across all fields, surpassing previous expectations. For society to continue progressing, all KAPDOH members must remain open to collaboration with other disciplines and embrace change with a flexible mindset. While concerns about AI technology exist, its potential to drive academic progress is undeniable. In particular, AI-based prediction models and diagnostic technologies for oral diseases are expected to play a pivotal role in oral health research. Having attended the conference over the past few years, I have been able to confirm that the society is consistently striving to pioneer new areas of research. This is a highly encouraging development, and I hope that KAPDOH will continue to contribute to the advancement of oral health in the years to come. With these expectations, I conclude my foreword.