As global health leaders prepare for the 2025 UN high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), oral health is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. As chair of the FDI Vision 2030 expert group and a leading voice in global health, Prof. Manu Mathur has been closely involved in guiding the implementation of the initiative. In this interview, he shares insights on what has been achieved so far and what lies ahead.