The Oral Health Pacific Islands Alliance (OPIA) aims for collaboration to bridge the gaps to achieve optimal oral health and maintain beautiful Pacific smiles. The alliance was established in 2014 during the fifth regional meeting of the Heads of Dental Services held in Suva, Fiji, with the objective to promote and represent the practice of oral health in the Pacific region, provide a forum for Pacific regional oral health professionals to share on matters that affect oral health in the region and develop shared solutions; as well as strengthen relationships with other stakeholders to advocate for oral health. The Suva Declaration was signed in 2014 by chief dental officers from 14 countries.

The organisation fosters regional cooperation and the exchange of ideas among oral health professionals through collaborative efforts to strengthen the prevention and control of oral diseases. Oral health professionals in the Pacific Island region are faced with common challenges, including a shortage of skilled oral health workforce, geographic isolation, a lack of technical support for dental equipment, and monitoring systems to evaluate service performance.

The development and adoption of a global oral health strategy by the World Health Organization in 2022 and the establishment of a Global Oral Health Action Plan in 2023 require an adequate response from the Pacific Islands so that the global momentum can benefit the region. This is the driving force calling for a regional meeting, along with the need to update country profiles, establish situational needs, assess our collective preparedness for future pandemics, mitigate the effects climate change has had on oral health, and support leadership succession planning for the region.