Researchers from eight countries have reported that, while some progress has been made in improving the oral health of children and adolescents, much remains to be done. Presenting their findings during the 84th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, research teams found that targeted health promotion and increased access to dental services are needed to improve the oral health of adolescents in juvenile detention (Australia). A study at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center raised awareness of early childhood caries, the prevalence of which is extremely high (China) while Japanese researchers found that there was significant differences among geographical regions in terms of caries prevalence in deciduous teeth, and the factors associated with dental caries prevalence.

Finnish researchers found that the health system, oral health services, and socio-cultural and environmental risk factors (e.g., the use of alcohol and tobacco products) did modify, to some extent, the effects of risk factors such as infrequent use of oral health services, and unhealthy habits, in teenagers and an Irish pilot questionnaire, the Adolescent Enamel Fluorosis Quality of Life Questionnaire, indicated the aesthetic impact of enamel fluorosis in 15-year-olds, and its impact on their oral-health-related quality of life