Our Story

The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF) is a global charitable organisation working to create a future in which fewer people experience the avoidable health and social burden of dental caries.

Founded in 2010, ACFF began as a collaboration between dental professionals who recognised that meaningful progress could not be achieved by individuals or organisations working in isolation. They came together to raise awareness of dental caries, strengthen prevention and management, and encourage coordinated clinical, educational and public health action.

That founding principle remains central to who we are. We are an Alliance.

Our strength comes from bringing together people and organisations with different perspectives, expertise and influence around a shared purpose. Through our global network and locally led Chapters, ACFF connects dental and public health professionals, researchers, educators, policymakers, professional associations, universities, charities, industry partners and communities.

Today, the ACFF network spans the globe, with hundreds of individuals working collaboratively at local, regional, national and international levels. Our Chapters translate shared ambitions into locally relevant action, reflecting the different needs, priorities and health systems of the countries and communities they serve.

Over time, our work has developed beyond a primarily clinical and dental focus. Although preventing and managing dental caries across the disease continuum remains at the heart of our mission, we increasingly approach oral health as an integral part of wider public health. This means recognising and addressing the broader determinants that influence health, including education, income, access to services, commercial and environmental conditions, health literacy and social inequality.

This broader perspective reflects a simple reality: dental caries is not solely a dental problem, and lasting improvement cannot be delivered by the oral health profession alone. Progress requires coordinated action across healthcare, government, education, communities and wider society. ACFF therefore works to strengthen the position of oral health within public health policy, promote prevention across the life course and support solutions that are equitable, sustainable and responsive to local circumstances.

Since its formation, ACFF and its Chapters have helped advance changes in dental education, professional practice, public health strategy and health policy. This has included supporting the development and implementation of contemporary cariology curricula, convening collaborative Policy Labs, translating evidence into practical recommendations, and engaging decision-makers on the importance of comprehensive caries prevention and management.

The next stage of ACFF’s development is focused on turning shared commitments into sustained action. We will continue to strengthen and expand our Alliance, welcome new partners and supporters and increase collaboration across sectors.

Achieving this ambition also requires a strong and sustainable financial foundation. ACFF is committed to developing and diversifying its funding so that the organisation can expand its reach, support locally led activity, invest in evidence-informed programmes and maintain its independence and long-term impact. By building relationships with funders and partners who share our values, we can enable the Alliance to grow and accelerate progress towards a cavity-free future for all.