Yeoh, Samuel, Bourdamis, Yani, Saker, Adam, Marano, Noah, Maundrell, Liam, Ramamurthy, Poornima, and Sharma, Dileep (2024) An Investigation Into Contaminated Waste Composition in a University Dental Clinic: Opportunities for Sustainability in Dentistry. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, 10 (6). e70015.

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Abstract

Objectives: Many international dental organizations have been advocating for sustainable practices in dentistry, whereby significant reductions in environmental impacts are needed. The aim of this study was to analyze dental clinical waste in a university clinic setting to explore opportunities for sustainable practices.

Material and Methods: Fifty dental units (chairs) that are routinely used in delivery of dental treatment and involved supervising clinicians, dental students, and patients were randomly selected, and the clinical waste generated was collected, segregated, and weighed. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences in waste production based on treatment performed.

Results: The mean waste production generated by each chair was 81.4 g of aprons, 56.2 g of gloves, 17.2 g of masks, 24.0 g of sterile wrappings, 48.8 g of other plastics, 100.8 g of cellulose‐based items, and 25.8 g of miscellaneous items. Higher waste was generated from the chairs performing endodontic procedures when compared with examinations. A potential annual green-house gas saving of approximately 10 kg CO2 e per year (when one patient is treated daily) can be achieved if sterile wrapping plastics were to be recycled.

Conclusions: Simple yet achievable opportunities for efficient clinical waste management at university clinics exist, which in turn will increase environmental sustainability in the post‐COVID‐19 era. Increased awareness and incentives for sustainable measures could potentially enhance the possibility of wider adoption of ecofriendly approaches.

Item ID:	84858
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2057-4347
Copyright Information:	This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2024 The Author(s). Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2025 00:39
FoR Codes:	32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3203 Dentistry > 320399 Dentistry not elsewhere classified @ 80% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4105 Pollution and contamination > 410599 Pollution and contamination not elsewhere classified @ 20%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1899 Other environmental management > 189999 Other environmental management not elsewhere classified @ 30% 20 HEALTH > 2003 Provision of health and support services > 200399 Provision of health and support services not elsewhere classified @ 70%
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