PR95176

GENEVA, March 30, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Paving the way for an industry Code of Good Practice

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

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