Sustainable Dentistry

Dental services have an important opportunity to address the sustainability of services – from the design of the clinical pathway to the organisation and delivery of care.  

In 2015-16 CSH undertook a project to measure the carbon footprint of dental services in England, funded by a grant from Public Health England. The report, released in July 2018, includes detail from the footprinting exercise which CSH has undertaken and refers to full tables of information which are available to all. It will also be of methodological interest to those working in sustainability or carbon footprinting in areas other than dentistry.

Linked with the carbon modelling work and with our Sustainable Specialties Fellowships we have hosted a number dentistry scholars who have worked on a range of projects to raise awareness and increase understanding of sustainability among dental health professionals. The scholars are supported by a national Dental Sustainability Advisory Group including representatives from the British Dental Association, the British Dental Industry Association, the General Dental Council, NHS England, Health Education England, practitioners and researchers.

Learn more about the pioneering work of our dental fellows here

Green Dentistry Guide

To help raise awareness of sustainability within dental practice we have produced a How-To Guide for Dental Practices. It is a practical resource for dental teams wishing to take action. 

View the sustainable dentistry guide

sustainable_dentistrySustainable Dentistry Course

This foundation course explains how dentistry contributes to climate change and ecological degradation, and helps dental care professionals and support staff in primary and secondary care to apply sustainable practices in their work. It offers an overview of the relationship between dentistry, health, and the climate and ecological crises. How are dentistry and healthcare both vulnerable to and contributing to climate change and ecological degradation? What would sustainable dentistry look like? What might the wider benefits be and how can we achieve this? 

Learn more about the course

Online Module

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare has worked with NHS England elearning for healthcare to refresh the Environmental Sustainability in Dentistry sessions.

The programme helps oral healthcare professionals, especially those in primary and secondary care, implement practise improvements and raise awareness of environmental sustainability among coworkers, patients, decision-makers, and the general public. This updated e-learning course helps dental professionals, including dentists, hygienists, nurses, technicians, and non-clinical coworkers, think about what actions they can take to provide dental care and oral health that is environmentally sustainable. The module is divided into 3 sections that include practical examples of oral health and dental care initiatives with sustainable value, and covers:

  • Environmental sustainability in dentistry
  • What is happening in sustainable dentistry?
  • Taking the next step

 The Environmental Sustainability in Dentistry module can be accessed on the elearning for healthcare hub.

Sustainable Dentistry Network

CSH hosts a network for sharing resources and best practices in sustainable dentistry.

View the network

View our other Sustainable Specialties here.