FDI World Dental Federation launches Consensus Statement on sustainable oral healthcare
PR95176
GENEVA, March 30, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
Paving the way for an industry Code of Good Practice
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FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), today, launched its inaugural Consensus
Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare [
https://www.fdiworlddental.org/sustainability-consensus-statement ], 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 [
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653922000338 ] 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
Source: FDI World Dental Federation
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