OTS - FDI World Dental Federation launches Consensus Statement on Sustainable Oral Healthcare
2022. March 30. 16:00
Geneva, Switzerland, 30 March, 2022 (APA/OTS) - Paving the way for
an industry Code of Good Practice - 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.
- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -
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.
ENDS
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
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