Environmental impact in dentistry: towards knowledge, awareness, and more sustainable and responsible practices for the environment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32480/rscp.2026.e3117Keywords:
Ecolabel, Environmental Health Education, Carbon Footprint, environmental pollution, Toxic Wastes, AwarenessAbstract
Dentistry has a significant environmental impact due to energy consumption, the use of disposable plastics, and waste generation. This review examines professionals' knowledge and awareness of sustainability in dentistry, identifying sustainable practices and proposing strategies to foster a more responsible culture within the dental sector. A review was conducted in the PubMed, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library databases selecting studies published between 2016 and 2024 related to eco-friendly practices and the environmental impact of dentistry. Original articles, short communications, review articles, and systematic reviews were included, while editorials and letters to the editor were excluded. The results show an increase in awareness of "green dentistry"; however, its practical implementation remains limited due to a lack of knowledge and adequate resources. It is recommended to integrate these topics into dental education and develop awareness campaigns to promote environmental commitment among the new generations of professionals.
Downloads
References
1. Woods L. Why environmental sustainability is important. BDJ In Pract. 2021;34(3):40-41. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-021-0683
2. Mulimani P. Green dentistry: the art and science of sustainable practice. Br Dent J. 2017;222(12):954-961. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.546
3. Duane B, Harford S, Ramasubbu D, Stancliffe R, Pasdeki-Clewer E, Lomax R, Steinbach I. Environmentally sustainable dentistry: a brief introduction to sustainable concepts within the dental practice. Br Dent J. 2019;226(4):292-295. Disponible en: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0010-7
4. Chen Y, Chen J, Guo J, Yao M, Liu Y, Qian J, et al. Release of microplastics during dental procedures and denture wear: Impact on dental personnel and patients. J Hazard Mater. 2025;494(138463):138463. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138463
5. Prata JC, da Costa JP, Lopes I, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T. Environmental exposure to microplastics: An overview on possible human health effects. Sci Total Environ. 2020;702:134455. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134455
6. Noh K, Loke J, Kim K. Could we have prevented all this? A comparison of the British and South Korean primary dental care response to COVID-19. British Dental Journal. 2020;228:916-918. Disponible en: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-020-1705-5
7. Martin N, Mulligan S, Fuzesi P, Hatton PV. Quantification of single-use plastics waste generated in clinical dental practice and hospital settings. J Dent. 2022;118:103948. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2022.103948
8. Bioseguridad en odontología ante COVID-19: revisión de aporte a estudiantes y profesionales. Rev Odontol Basadrina. 2021;5(2):26-35. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.33326/26644649.2021.5.2.1194
9. Rivas GJ, Gracia CMC. El desarrollo y beneficio de las escuelas de odontología sustentables. Rev ADM. 2021;78(4):209-214. https:// dx.doi.org/10.35366/101075
10. Lee Garcés Y, Guilarte Cuenca M, Lee Garcés Y, Samón Cruz R, Fernández Justiz R. Nivel de conocimiento sobre manejo de desechos estomatológicos. Rev Inf Cient. 2017;96(4):667-674. Disponible en: https://revinfcientifica.sld.cu/index.php/ric/article/view/1186
11. Pastor Durán MP, Pastor Durán R, Reyes de Jesús L, Ornelas Martínez MR, Muñoz Alday CD. Nivel de conocimiento sobre el manejo de los residuos peligrosos biológico-infecciosos (RPBI) de estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Cienc Lat Rev Cient Multidiscip. 2024;8(1):11128-11144. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v8i1.10421
12. Gowdar IM, Al-Mansour OA, Alshehri MA, Alaskar AM, Alfahad MH, Al-Harbi KF. Biomedical waste management knowledge among dental students and private dental practitioners of Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024;16(Suppl 3):S2271-S2274. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_189_24
13. Grueso Hinestroza D, Garcia Zúñiga LM. El “derecho a la salud”: dificultades, logros y desafíos. Revista Nacional de Salud Pública 2020;38(3):e338552. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfnsp.e338552
14. Zia N, Doss JG, John J, Panezai J. Sustainability in dentistry: assessing knowledge, attitude, and practices of dental practitioners about green dentistry. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2024;40(1):233-241. Disponible en: https://pjms.org.pk/index.php/pjms/article/view/7785
15. Al-Qarni MA, Shakeela NV, Alamri MA, Alshaikh YA. Awareness of eco-friendly dentistry among dental faculty and students of King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016;10(10):ZC75-ZC78. Disponible en: https://www.jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?id=8663
16. Manrique-Chávez JE. Sostenibilidad en odontología: de la odontología ambiental a la odontología verde. Rev Estomatol Herediana. 2022;32(1):102-104. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.20453/reh.v32i1.4190
17. Płuciennik-Koropczuk E, Myszograj S, Mąkowski M. Assessment of renewable energy sources in achieving energy self-sufficiency of sewage treatment plants. Energies. 2022;15(22):8446. Disponible en: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/22/8446
18. Jamal H, Marghalani AA, Al-Sharif A, Shinawi A, Gaffar B, Al-Edaili EA, 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 (Basel). 2023;11(4):103. Disponible en: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/11/4/103
19. Díaz-Soriano A, Gallo W, Luza S, Munive-Degregori A, Bocanegra R, Mayta-Tovalino F. Knowledge and awareness of effective recycling of dental materials and waste management among Peruvian undergraduate students of dentistry: a logistic regression analysis. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2020;10(3):309-315. Disponible en: https://journals.lww.com/jpcd/fulltext/2020/10030/knowledge_and_awareness_of_effective_recycling_of.11.aspx
20. Nassar M, Shalan W, Al-Janaby U, Elnagar H, Alawadhi M, Jaser S, et al. Exploring environmental sustainability in dentistry among students and educators in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24(1):489. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05488-x
21. Gershberg NC, Lee J, Murphree JK, Parchure A, Hackley DM. US students’ perceptions on environmental sustainability in dental school. J Dent Educ. 2022;86(4):482-488. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.12822
22. Spaveras A, Antoniadou M. Awareness of students and dentists on sustainability issues, safety of use and disposal of dental amalgam. Dent J (Basel). 2023;11(1):21. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.3390/dj11010021
23. Raghuvanshi M, Sinha S, Mohiddin G, Panda A, Dash KC, Bhuyan L. Awareness of biomedical waste management among dentists associated with institutions and private practitioners of North India: a comparative study. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2018;19(3):273-277. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29603697/
24. Richardson GM, Wilson R, Allard D, Purtill C, Douma S, Gravière J. Mercury exposure and risks from dental amalgam in the US population, post-2000. Sci Total Environ. 2011;409(20):4257-4268. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.06.035
25. Thakar S, Kinariwala N, Pandya D, Parekh NH, Patel NK, Patel A. Awareness and constraints towards the implementation of green dentistry amongst dental students and private practitioners of West India. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2023;15(Suppl 2):S1287-S1290. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_116_23
26. Andayani LH, Soulissa AG, Danwieck J. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of green dentistry: a scoping review. J Indones Dent Assoc. 2024;7(1):46-54. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.32793/jida.v7i1.1110
27. Makanjuola JO, Ekowmenhenhen UI, Enone LL, Umesi DC, Ogundana OM, Arotiba GT. Mercury hygiene and biomedical waste management practices among dental health-care personnel in public hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. Afr Health Sci. 2021;21(1):457-469. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v21i1.56
28. Mandalidis A, Topalidis A, Voudrias EA, Iosifidis N. Composition, production rate, and characterization of Greek dental solid waste. Waste Manag. 2018;75:124-130. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.01.035
29. Baird H, Mulligan S, Webb T, et al. Exploring attitudes towards more sustainable dentistry among adults living in the UK. Br Dent J. 2022;233:333-342. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4910-6
30. Saxena V, Datla A, Deheriya M, Tiwari N, Shoukath S, Bhargava A. EcoSmile: a comprehensive analysis of sustainable dental practices using mixed methodology. Adv Hum Biol. 2024;14(4):279-289. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.4103/aihb.aihb_153_23
31. Haque S, Nurunnabi M, Akhter F, Bianoony AAM. Attitude towards sustainability in dentistry: the evidence from Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. International Dental Journal. 2024;74(4):884-891. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2024.01.007
32. Hoyte T, James A, Carr D, Teelucksingh ADA, Mossey P. Adult attitudes to sustainable dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago and their willingness to accept alternatives. BDJ Open. 2024;10(1):33. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-024-00216-5
33. Adegbembo AO, Watson PA, Lugowski SJ. The weight of wastes generated by removal of dental amalgam restorations and the concentration of mercury in dental wastewater. J Can Dent Assoc. 2002;68(9):553-558. Disponible en: https://jcda.ca/article/c68.553
34. Sanabria A, Kowalski LP, Nixon IJ, Shaha A, De Bree R, Mäkitie AA, Rinaldo A, Ferlito A. Considerations for environmentally sustainable head and neck surgical oncology practice. Am J Otolaryngol. 2020;41(6):102719. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102719
35. Dixon J, Field J, Gibson E, Martin N. Curriculum content for environmental sustainability in dentistry. J Dent. 2024;147:105021. Disponible en: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105021
36. Calabró PS, Komilis DP. A standardized inspection methodology to evaluate municipal solid waste collection performance. J Environ Manag. 2019;246:184-191. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.142
37. Pandiar D, Baranwal HC, Chattopadhyay K, Kumar P. An in vitro appraisal of properties of dental amalgam using commercially available and ayurvedically recycled mercury: recycle and reuse. J Conserv Dent. 2018;21(6):651-656. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.4103/JCD.JCD_114_18.
38. Atalaya Ortiz KJ, Ordinola Ramírez CM. Manejo de residuos sólidos en la clínica estomatológica, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas. Rev Cient UNTRM Cienc Soc Humanid. 2021;4(2):53-57. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.25127/rcsh.20214.713
39. Barbosa-Liz D, Agudelo-Suárez AA, Atuesta-Mondragón MF, Ariza-Olaya JT, Plaza-Ruíz SP. Modificación de la práctica odontológica, seguimiento a protocolos y percepción de riesgo de los odontólogos durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Colombia: estudio de corte transversal. Rev Fac Odontol Univ Antioq. 2021;33(1). Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfo.v33n1a2
40. Lyne A, Ashley P, Saget S, et al. Combining evidence-based healthcare with environmental sustainability: using the toothbrush as a model. Br Dent J. 2020;229:303-309. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1981-0
41. Ballesté AG, Basilio Monné J, Zabalza Cerdeiriña M, García A. ¿Estamos usando bien el plástico en odontología? Rev Consejo Gen Colegios Odontól Estomatól España. 2020;25(2):170-176. Disponible en: https://rcoe.es/articulos/105-estamos-usando-bien-el-plstico-en-odontologa.pdf
42. Santos MHS, Macedo A, Dias ICCM, Ferreira AGN, Bezerra JM, Silva RA. Educación sanitaria: gestión de residuos hospitalarios y uso de equipos de protección personal. Enferm Foco. 2024;15:e-202451. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.21675/2357-707X.2024.v15.e-202451
43. Souza CCF, Melo BR, Santos MAS, Rebello FK, Martins CM, Beltrão NES. Diagnosis of sustainability in solid waste management in the municipality of Marituba, metropolitan region of Belém, state of Pará. Rev Metropolitana Sustentabilidade. 2019;9(2):115-136. Disponible en: https://n9.cl/jd09y
44. Vu C, Ibarra-Vega A, Yang CD, Manzanarez-Felix K, Ting CL, Pakvasa M, et al. Interventions to reduce surgical waste burden: a systematic review. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024;12(8):e6085. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006085
45. Uddin MA, Afroj S, Hasan T, Carr C, Novoselov KS, Karim N. Environmental impacts of personal protective clothing used to combat COVID-19. Adv Sustain Syst. 2022;6(1):2100176. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.202100176
46. Gómez GR. El manejo de residuos peligrosos biológico-infecciosos en los consultorios dentales. Estudio de campo. Rev ADM. 2004;61(4):137-141. Disponible en: https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/adm/od-2004/od044d.pdf
47. Mosquera-Palomino J, Vélez-Gómez CI. Reciclaje de excedentes metálicos generados en la elaboración de prótesis dentales. Perspect Nutr Hum. 2020;15(2):140-150. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.22507/pml.v15n2a8
48. Shiyo S, Nagels J, Shangali HG. Recycling of plaster of Paris. Afr J Disabil. 2020;9:a503. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v9i0.503
49. Tawade SU, Dhamande MM, Dubey SA, Sathe S, Selukar MS, Pathak A. Sustainable dentistry: a comprehensive review of the recycling techniques for gypsum products in prosthodontics. Cureus. 2024;16(3):e55997. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.55997
50. Nicot Gómez R, Moré Estupiñán Y. Cuidado y conservación del medio ambiente desde la perspectiva del personal estomatológico. Rev Cubana Estomatol. 2021;58(3):e3456. Disponible en: https://revestomatologia.sld.cu/index.php/est
51. Ricaldi Soto L. Una odontología sustentable para Chile: revisión narrativa desde una perspectiva ecológica y sustentable. ARS MEDICA Rev Cienc Méd. 2024;49(2):38-48. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.11565/arsmed.v49i2.2020
52. Wataha JC. Biocompatibility of dental casting alloys: a review. J Prosthet Dent. 2000;83(2):223-234. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3913(00)80016-5
53. Mulligan S, Kakonyi G, Moharamzadeh K, Thornton SF, Martin N. The environmental impact of dental amalgam and resin-based composite materials. Br Dent J. 2018;224(7):542-548. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.208
54. González y Rivas M. Papel de la odontología en el desarrollo ecosostenible en Latinoamérica. Univ Odontol. 2023;42. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.uo42.rdes
55. Sanabria Zotelo ME, Martínez Rivas DA. El capital semilla y la academia en la sostenibilidad del negocio de mujeres emprendedoras beneficiarias del proyecto REEMUJER/MIC. Rev. Soc. Cient. Parag. 2024;29(2):43-55. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.32480/rscp.2024.29.2.4355
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista de la Sociedad Científica del Paraguay
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
El/los autores autorizan a la Revista de la Sociedad Científica del Paraguay a publicar y difundir el articulo del cual son autores, por los medios que considere apropiado.
