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159 - Current Environmentally Sustainable Practices in Dental Offices

Friday, May 24, 2024
11:15 AM – 11:25 AM EST
Location: Exhibit Hall (back left corner of the hall, space 137)

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Samantha Best, DDS

    Pediatric Dental Resident
    NYU Langone Dental Medicine, San Diego, CA
    NYU Langone Dental Medicine, San Diego, CA
    SAN DIEGO, California, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • FW

    Fadra Whyte, DMD, MPH

    Pediatric Dental Attending
    NYU Langone Health and San Ysidro Health
    San Diego, California, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • DK

    Daniel J. Kane, DMD

    Program Director
    NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
    Brooklyn, New York, United States

Abstract:



Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine current environmental sustainability of dental offices in the United States. The hypothesis is that dental practitioners currently are not using sustainable practices in their offices and that there are areas for improvement within the dental profession.



Methods: This study was a closed-ended electronic anonymous email survey to active members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Participates were provided with a link to a 22-question survey in REDCap regarding practices currently used in their office. Questions focused on 4 main topics: recycling, electricity usage, use of reusable equipment, and use of electronic records. Survey responses of practice owners only were used for analysis.  

Results: Three hundred and sixty-six completed survey responses were received. Of the 366 total completed responses 245 were eligible for analysis. A majority of the participants were pediatric dentists (236, 96.3%) and 9 (3.7%) were general dentists. Of the 366, 165 (67.3%) have practiced 15 or more years and 201 (54.9%) have practiced for 15 years or less. The practices were located in U.S. regions: Northeast (40, 16.3%), South Atlantic (54, 22%), Southwest (19, 7.8%) Midwest (54, 22%) Western (61, 24.9%).



Conclusion: Improvements can be made in environmental sustainability of dental practices in the United States. However, this research studies provided information of primarily private practice pediatric dental offices. Further research is recommended to assess the sustainability of dental practices in other specialties and clinic types.

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