Dental Solid Waste Analysis: A Scoping Review and Research Model Proposal

Abstract

In the face of 21st-century environmental challenges, including climate change, migration pressures, and waste disposal issues, certain healthcare sectors, notably dentistry, pose a significant global environmental footprint with concerns about carbon emissions and waste production. This scoping review searches the paradox that healthcare, while dedicated to safeguarding health, inadvertently contributes to environmental degradation through waste accumulation and disposal. The analysis of the relevant literature emphasizes the imperative for an environmentally sustainable approach to dental waste measurement, disposal methods, and comprehensive education for stakeholders. Aligned with the World Conference on Sustainable Development and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, the study adhered to PRISMA-ScR systematic review guidelines and the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations. The study utilized Medline/PubMed and international organization websites for data retrieval, employing Boolean operator queries in Medline. The systematic literature analysis identified six cross-sectional studies (2004–2023) highlighting variations in dental waste composition due to the lack of standardized identification methods. This heterogeneity underscores the need for a proposed research model, emphasizing comprehensive methodologies and healthcare staff training in waste management, thus transforming the analysis into a scoping review. The study advocates for environmentally conscious dental practices, contributing to broader sustainable healthcare goals through sharing of a research protocol for dental solid waste management.

The Dentist's Role in Cultivating Environmental Awareness for Sustainability and promotion of Climate Consciousness

“…Additionally, harmful microorganisms such as drug-resistant microorganisms contained in medical waste can infect healthcare professionals as well as the public [15]. This has led to more regulations being made, requiring the correct disposal of medical waste to reduce the negative consequences [16]. Widely recognized as the most effective means of ensuring healthcare sustainability from environmental, social, and economic standpoints is prevention.…”

“…Concerning this, everyone involved in the generation, handling, and discarding of medical waste should be included in the decision-making process. Dentists and dental staff, but patients as well, should be informed and aware of the environmental risks of dental waste and contribute to the reduction of the environmental footprint to fulfill sustainability in healthcare [16]. As stated in the Code of Ethics for Dentists in the European Union « The dentist should be conscious of the social nature of his/her profession and must direct society's attention to public health issues and the promotion of quality of care» [29].…”