Sustainable Dentistry

We describe the ways in which the health system itself is both vulnerable to and contributing to these issues, with a specific focus on the environmental impacts of the practice of dentistry. The course explores (using real world case studies) how we can deliver high quality dental care within planetary boundaries, offering tips and tricks for implementing sustainable improvements in your dental practice. We also consider the leadership role dental professionals (at any level) can play. As healthcare professionals we cannot stand on the sidelines; we have a duty of care to our patients, communities, and the natural world which is our life support system. There are many important ways to make a difference and this course is a starting point.

Learning objectives

By the end of the course you will be able to:

1. Describe the risks the global environmental crisis presents to human health and healthcare systems.
2. Describe the contribution of the health sector, and dentistry in particular, to the global environmental crisis. 
3. Identify carbon hotspots and understand the basic principles of carbon footprinting and sustainability in quality improvement.
4. Explain how to deliver dental care sustainably and how this could help to address existing challenges in the healthcare system.
5. Apply the principles of sustainability to planning a sustainability project in your workplace. 

Course structure 

 This course is delivered in three parts:

1.  Self-study online
2.  Live workshop online
3.  Ongoing Mentoring