Eco-friendly dentistry: Preventing pollution to promoting sustainability

• Main Authors: Reena Mittal, Rachna Maheshwari, Siddhi Tripathi, Sujata Pandey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Sciences
• Subjects: eco-friendly dentistry; pollution; sustainable development; waste disposal
• Online Access: http://www.ijds.in/article.asp?issn=0976-4003;year=2020;volume=12;issue=4;spage=251;epage=257;aulast=Mittal

In today's world, being eco-friendly is a part of every profession. Medical profession is concerned with maintaining general health and well-being of the individual. Dentistry is dedicated toward maintenance of oral health and enhancing function. However, it has a huge impact on environment due to generation of large amount of waste including metallic waste and excessive use of water and electricity. Practicing green dentistry involves judicious use of water and electricity, decreasing waste production, and decreasing pollution with the use of the latest technologies. Oral health workers should recognize the significance of contributing in the interests of sustainability. They share the moral responsibility toward the society to provide optimal oral health services, maintain patient safety as well as reduce their impact on natural resources. This study reviews some practical suggestions for making dental practice eco-friendly by enhancing the use of newer technologies and reducing the use of disposables and paper and eco-friendly waste management.