FDI World Dental Federation launches Consensus Statement on sustainable oral healthcare

Paving the way for an industry Code of Good Practice

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GENEVA, March 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), today, launched its inaugural Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare, aimed at moving the oral healthcare sector towards more environmentally friendly practices that ultimately reduce the carbon footprint of the profession.

The Consensus Statement was released today at a special summit organized by FDI that brought together a diverse range of influential stakeholders, including leading figures from industry as well as health professionals, academic experts, legislative authorities, and dental associations.

"It will come as a surprise to many people that the healthcare sector is responsible for around five per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, of which oral healthcare is an important contributor," said Prof. Ihsane Ben Yahya, FDI President and dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco.

"The dental industry has a collective responsibility to reduce its environmental impact and today's Consensus Statement is the first major step to achieving that. The Consensus Statement reflects the growing recognition within the oral healthcare community that we must strive to improve oral health in a sustainable manner in compliance with UN targets. Healthier mouths mean a healthier planet."

Oral healthcare contributes to the environmental burden through air pollution arising from the release of CO₂ associated with travel and transport, incineration of waste, lack of recyclable packaging, the greenhouse gas impact of anaesthetic gases such as nitrous oxide, and the high consumption of water.

The Consensus Statement identifies the complex drivers that underpin current behaviours and practices and recommends remediation strategies based on the 4 Rs: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Rethink.

Whilst highlighting some of the unavoidable environmental impacts linked to providing accessible dental check-ups and treatments to facilitate good oral health and reduce inequalities in healthcare. It also makes the case for minimizing "avoidable" oral healthcare, arguing that it is best achieved through both the delivery and maintenance of good oral  healthcare, focused on prevention with the promotion of good oral hygiene, healthy low-sugar diets, and avoidance of tobacco.

"Prevention is better than cure and it is the most impactful and practical way of reducing the need for clinical interventions and associated environmental impacts," said Prof. Nicolas Martin, Chair of the FDI Sustainability in Dentistry Task Team and Clinical Professor in Restorative Dentistry in the School of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Sheffield in the UK. 

"When treatment is required, oral healthcare should focus on the provision of durable fillings, using high-quality products and materials that will last longer and/or require fewer replacements."

The Consensus Statement is supported by a concise commentary Sustainable Oral Healthcare – A Joint Stakeholder Approach published in the International Dental Journal today.

Further Information:

Michael Kessler
FDI Media Relations
Mob: + 34 655 792 699
Email: michael.kessler@intoon-media.com

About FDI World Dental Federation

FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for over 1 million dentists worldwide. Its membership includes some 200 national dental associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries. FDI has the vision of leading the world to optimal oral health. www.fdiworlddental.org/

About the Sustainability in Dentistry project

FDI's Sustainability in Dentistry project was established to motivate and inspire commitment to reduce the collective CO₂ footprint of dentistry, targeting practitioners, patients, and the supply chain itself. The project will produce a suite of tools and resources for dental practices and patients to be more environmentally sustainable. The Consensus Statement was developed through multi-stakeholder collaboration and will result in a Code of Good Practice, which will provide guidelines and objectives for achieving a sustainable procurement and supply procedure. This will be signed by co-signatories across the supply chain.

The project is supported by our founding partners: Colgate, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Dentsply Sirona, Procter & Gamble and TePe. www.fdiworlddental.org/sustainability-dentistry