Dr Dympna Kavanagh is chief dental officer in Ireland’s Department of Health and chair of the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe. A specialist in dental public health, Dr Kavanagh has long advocated for the integration of oral health into broader health systems and policies. During her presentation at EuroPerio11 in Austria, she addressed the evolving global health landscape and the role of civil society in supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023–2030). Dental Tribune International met with her to talk about Europe’s oral health priorities, reducing inequalities in oral care and what lies ahead as the UN was preparing for its 2025 high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases on 25 September in New York in the US.