Sustainable Dentistry 

Welcome!

The practice of healthcare contributes significantly to the international carbon footprint and the collapse in biological diversity, both of which undermine human health. Dentistry contributes through the products we buy, the waste we produce, and the way patients access our services. 

Course description

This foundation course explains how dentistry contributes to climate change and ecological degradation, and helps dental care professionals and support staff in primary and secondary care to apply sustainable practices in their work. It offers an overview of the relationship between dentistry, health, and the climate and ecological crises. How are dentistry and healthcare both vulnerable to and contributing to climate change and ecological degradation? What would sustainable dentistry look like? What might the wider benefits be and how can we achieve this? The course also highlights the leadership role dental staff can play in providing care for all within planetary boundaries. 

The course is intended as an overview of the field for dental care staff at any level who are new to sustainable healthcare. The training will help you to understand why sustainability matters, then help you to ‘green’ your dental practice using case studies from dentistry and offering tips and tricks for implementing sustainability improvements. The  course also lays the groundwork for developing your skills further in the technical  (carbon footprinting and SusQI) courses.

Sustainable dentistry delivers high quality care without damaging the environment, is affordable now and in the future and delivers positive social impact. The practice of dentistry consumes enormous quantities of materials, energy, chemicals and water, and produces vast amounts of waste, much of it toxic. A more efficient and sustainable system would not use resources in a way that adversely affects the health of the population or prevent tomorrow's dental professionals from providing care. Sustainable dentistry can also make a significant contribution to the carbon reductions required by the Paris Agreement, the NHS net zero commitments and the wider UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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, particularly dentistry, to the global environmental crisis. 
3. Explain how sustainability can help to address existing challenges in the healthcare system.
4. Identify carbon hotspots and understand the basic principles of carbon footprinting.
5. Apply the principles of sustainability to dentistry.
6. Plan a sustainability project in your workplace.

Course structure 

Part I. Self-study online - Interactive online materials covering all course content, illustrated with case studies, presented in bite-sized modules. The course is flexible to your interests and available time; a condensed version can be completed in under 2 hours using the module summary pages whilst the full course contains 8 hours of more in depth study. A discussion forum allows you to reflect on your learning and share thoughts and ideas with fellow learners.  A short video on the home page outlines how to navigate the learning platform and obtain your certificate of completion. The learning materials are available to you from the point of booking and for 6 months after your workshop date. You can see a table of contents for the self study materials here. 

“Very interesting read - gave me a realistic idea of the effects we, as humans, are having on the planet and how everything is interlinked”

Part 2. Live workshop online - The 4 hour virtual workshop consolidates your understanding of the course materials and then focuses on helping you develop ideas for a sustainability project in your setting;  translating your learning into action through small group discussions with CSH experts and colleagues from around the world using the range of resources and tools. A separate certificate of completion is provided for the workshop. 

“Seeing the broad range of ideas from peers shows how sustainability can be approached from different angles”

“Access to knowledgeable and approachable individuals who are clearly passionate about the topic.”

Part 3. Mentoring

After completing the self-study materials and online workshop you are invited to attend our online Sustainable Healthcare Cafés. The one hour cafes occur regularly throughout the year and  offer ongoing support for you to put your learning in to practice. They are a friendly, informal setting in which to:

• Get support for sustainability projects from peers and CSH staff
• Make connections with others bringing sustainability projects into their workplace

You are welcome to continue attending the cafes as many times as you wish. Upcoming dates are available here and will also be emailed out to you with your certificate of completion after the workshop. 

What future do we choose?

Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the earth’s natural systems, which create the air we breathe, the food we can grow, the proliferation of diseases and much more. This complex set of relationships is sometimes referred to as ‘planetary health’ and is increasingly recognized as a critical perspective in health improvement and protection. Since 1980 global greenhouse gas emissions have doubled, and human activity has removed about half the wild birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates and insects on our planet. The health implications of this are clear, and terrifying, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic starkly demonstrates this. Individuals, organizations, and movements across the world have called a climate emergency to respond. There is a huge amount to do and we are all needed. There are many important ways to make a difference and this course is a starting point for this exploration.

To kick off, we invite you to enjoy this evocative 2 minute video poem What Future Do We Choose?

 
© 2024 Centre for Sustainable Healthcare