Climate change is the biggest health threat of our century, increasing the risk of disease, adding pressure to our health systems, and exacerbating health inequalities. Across the world, healthcare is responsible for approximately 4-5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and with oral healthcare a contributor, we must do what we can to make dentistry more sustainable.
Global collaboration in sustainable dentistry
Sustainability in healthcare means not only delivering high quality care but also reducing environmental harm and promoting long-term public health. To do this, we need a whole system approach. One of the most important ways oral healthcare can contribute to sustainability is through disease prevention and improvement of oral health of the population, with a reduced need for intervention and treatment which impact the environment. Sustainable approaches, embedded into dental practices, can also drive meaningful change, and the dental team have an important role to play in spreading awareness about sustainability and prevention.
the dental team have an important role to play in spreading awareness about sustainability and prevention.
Tackling climate change is a global undertaking, and engagement with our national and international dentistry partners is fundamental to this challenge. I was proud to be a member of the FDI Sustainability in Dentistry Task Team, which provided guidance and scientific expertise for the FDI’s Sustainability in Dentistry Project. The team was headed by Professor Nicholas Martin and Dr Steve Mulligan from Sheffield Dental School and included other experts from around the world. Through this project and guided by the FDI’s policy statement on sustainability, the team developed two massive open online courses (MOOCs) and a range of resources, including guidance documents and a toolkit, to help reduce the environmental impact of dentistry and the dental industry. It is a privilege to work with such committed, knowledgeable, world-renowned experts.
Policy change and prevention to support sustainability
We know that sustainability matters to our members, and so we have developed a policy statement, which sets out the actions we are calling for to support sustainability in dentistry. We continue to call for preventive actions, including NHS contract reform, the introduction of national policies to reduce the nation’s sugar intake, addressing antimicrobial resistance, and supporting the reduction in the use of dental amalgam. By adopting these national approaches, we can mitigate healthcare’s impact on the environment and contribute to efforts to support a healthier population.
We know that sustainability matters to our members
Additionally, the team has looked at how sustainability can be integrated into every area of the undergraduate curriculum and how prevention can be practically implemented, rewarded, and the focal point of the dentistry we carry out every day. Consideration should also be given to “Getting It Right First Time” in order to ensure that the invasive dentistry we have to practise is effective and long lasting.
Practical tools and guidance for sustainable practice
Alongside our policy statement, on our new sustainability in your practice advice page, we have brought together practical tools and resources from a variety of sources, for members who want to learn more about sustainability and the approaches they could take to move towards more sustainable practices.
This includes links to the FDI’s MOOCs, which can help you understand the environmental impact of oral healthcare and your role in sustainable practice, and the FDI toolkit which can support dentists and the dental team with a move towards sustainable approaches. We have also developed an environmental sustainability policy, alongside an audit and action plan that all members can use to commit to good practice in this area.
Engaging dental teams and embedding sustainable culture
For our Good Practice members, we also have an exclusive team engagement resource available on our CPD hub. As part of this, teams are invited to elect a practice sustainability champion to promote education and awareness on the topic and to help drive practical change. Upon completion, members will receive a sustainability pledge and digital logo to display their commitment to becoming a more environmentally sustainable practice. Both to patients and for their dental team.
We know that awareness of the environmental challenge is growing
We know that awareness of the environmental challenge is growing, and we hope that by bringing together advice and guidance, we can support our members to play an important role in reducing the impact of dentistry on the environment and lead sustainable healthcare practices.
