The FDI World Dental Federation supports the following four basic principles:

1. In the interest of protecting and enhancing the oral health of the population and the professional values of the dental profession, the FDI World Dental Federation supports the concept of freedom of movement of dentists provided:
   • their professional training and education are equivalent;
   • their authority to practice has not been revoked for malpractice or other legal reasons; and
   • their practice experiences are reasonably current.
2. As a general rule, governmental authorities or professional organizations should not recognise the dental diplomas of candidates whose training, education and experience are of a lower standard than exists for practicing dentists in the state, country or region.
3. Due to the diversity of educational programmes throughout the world as to curriculum, length and quality of education, availability of clinical training and uniform accepted standards of outcomes assessment, FDI World Dental Federation supports the concept that appropriate dental professional organizations in the FDI regions evaluate the equivalancy of education, training, experience and professional conduct of candidates applying for the right to practice in that state, country or region.
4. FDI World Dental Federation considers it premature to envision a global equivalency of diplomas. Differences among countries throughout the world are still too great when considering factors such as oral conditions of the population, dental needs, and dental manpower.

FDI World Dental Federation as a future project should develop general guidelines and model protocols for the evaluation of:

• Dental educational programmes that meet acceptable standards of outcome assessments;
• Professional dental experience and professional conduct of candidates seeking the right to practice in a state, country or region.

These guidelines and protocols can be used to guide member associations in the evaluation of the equivalency of dental education, training, experience and professional conduct in the interest of enhancing and protecting the oral health of the public.

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