Sustainability and General Dental Practice: An Overview.

Abstract

##Statement of the problem Sustainability recognises that the resources that we use are finite and that we should be cognisant of the way in which we use them and use them with care. ##Purpose of the study This paper aims to provide an overview of sustainability in a broad healthcare context and specifically from a dental perspective. ##Materials and Methods This publication discusses how the concept of sustainability can impact the decisions we make regarding the dentistry that we provide. We consider many relevant factors, including practice settings, travel and patient records, single-use equipment, oral hygiene, patient and treatments. ##Results and Conclusion Possible options for improving the sustainability of dental practice are proposed, ranging from “easy wins” to more significant investments in time and finance.