Abstract
Dentistry is a highly energy- and resource-intensive field and consequently has a significant environmental impact. In 2013-2014, total greenhouse gas emissions of NHS dental services in England measured 675 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, with 64.5% related to travel, 19% from procurement and 15.3% from energy use. There is currently an absence of comprehensive standards or guidelines for sustainable dentistry. Instead, sustainable initiatives have been at a small scale and are adopted voluntarily by groups or professionals as an ethical duty or practical requirement. However, a recent study showed that there seems to be increasing interest from dental teams in how to become more sustainable. This opinion article focuses on how the dental profession can ensure a sustainable recovery as England emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, with an emphasis on improving environmental sustainability related to travel within the dental healthcare system. Reducing dental-associated travel can include changing mode of transport, combining family appointments, appropriate scheduling of dental examinations, preventive dentistry and the use of information technology.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
