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Sustainability in dentistry

Status update: environmental sustainability in the dental profession

British Dental Journal volume 239, pages 561–562 (2025)Cite this article

Key points

  • The aim of this article is to update the profession on environmental sustainability.

  • This article highlights the multiple stakeholders within dentistry and their role.

  • Ultimately, the most environmentally sustainable care we can provide centres around prevention, which has a prerequisite of ensuring that our patients are active co-managers of their own oral health.

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References

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  2. Field J, Martin N, Duane B et al. Embedding environmental sustainability within oral health professional curricula – recommendations for teaching and assessment of learning outcomes. Eur J Dent Educ 2023; 27: 650–661.

  3. Dixon J, Field J, van Harten M, Duane B, Martin N. Environmental sustainability in oral health professional education: approaches, challenges, and drivers – ADEE Special-Interest Group Report. Eur J Dent Educ 2024; 28: 969–977.

  4. Martin N, Mulligan S, Shellard I, Hatton P V, Shellard I J. Consensus on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare: A Joint Stakeholder Statement. York: White Rose University Press, 2022.

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  8. General Dental Council. The Safe Practitioner: A Framework of Behaviours and Outcomes for Dental Professional Education. 2023. Available at https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/education-and-cpd/safe-practitoner/spf-dentist.pdf?sfvrsn=c198211d_5 (accessed 5 September 2025).

  9. Durnall O, Martin N, Mulligan S. Dixon J. Environmental sustainability: the attitudes and experiences of UK students in the oral health care profession. Br Dent J 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41415-024-7135-z.

  10. Jamal H, Marghalani A A, Al-Sharif A et al. Exploring the perception of dental undergraduate students and faculty on environmental sustainability in dentistry: a cross-sectional survey in 26 dental schools in Saudi Arabia. Dent J 2023; 11: 103.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Health, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Nicolas Martin, Jonathan Dixon & Steven Mulligan

Authors
  1. Nicolas Martin
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  2. Jonathan Dixon
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  3. Steven Mulligan
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Correspondence to Nicolas Martin, Jonathan Dixon or Steven Mulligan.

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Martin, N., Dixon, J. & Mulligan, S. Status update: environmental sustainability in the dental profession. Br Dent J 239, 561–562 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-9291-1

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