Promoting Sustainable Dentistry
As environmental stewards, we are conscious of our operations’ impacts on the environment. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to play a key role as cofounder of a landmark project to improve sustainability in dentistry, launched in May 2021.
We've joined GSK Consumer Healthcare, Procter & Gamble, Colgate, and TePe as founding partners with FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) to promote sustainability in dentistry amongst practitioners, patients, and throughout the supply chain.
By uniting key peers from the wider life sciences sector, FDI, and our customers, this partnership will create a new wave of sustainable action within dentistry and set an ambitious benchmark. On a practical level, it will equip dentists and their teams with the tools and resources to improve sustainability in their dental practices while informing the public of the role they can play in ensuring a sustainable future for dentistry, both through improved oral health and by making informed decisions.
A key milestone was recently reached, as the Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare was finalized! A comprehensive document that identifies current behaviors and proposes strategies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the dental industry. The Consensus Statement is the outcome of a multi-stakeholder collaboration – above-mentioned key partners, representatives from various dental associations around the world, analyzed, completed, and documented by the dedicated Task Force of FDI World Dental Federation. And it will result in a Code of Good Practice to provide guidelines and objectives for become more sustainable in dental practices and across the entire supply chain.
The partnership’s aims are:
- To inspire and equip all stakeholders to address the issue of sustainability in oral healthcare, identify potential solutions and strategies, and build motivation and commitment to reducing environmental impact
- To engage with stakeholders from all levels of the supply chain to commit to managing plastic use in a practical and sustainable manner, and pledge to follow the FDI Sustainability Code of Practice
- To motivate and equip dentists and their teams with the ability to improve sustainability in their dental practices
- To inform patients of their personal role in contributing to sustainability through improved oral health and making sustainable choices
- To engage with governments and policy makers (via national dental associations) to deliver a model of sustainable dentistry
"I am delighted to witness FDI’s Sustainability in Dentistry project evolve into this high-caliber, multipartner initiative to achieve our sustainability goals for the dental profession. The project’s humble beginnings as a way to encourage oral health professionals and dental practices to ‘think green’ is now moving into a phase of collaboration, action, and real results."
Dr. Gerhard K. Seeberger
FDI President
Dentsply Sirona proudly supports World Oral Health Day 2022
As part of Dentsply Sirona's sustainability strategy, "BEYOND: Taking action for a brighter world," the company has committed to promoting World Oral Health Day 2022 and its aim of raising awareness of oral health as a key factor in living a longer, healthier life.
Celebrated annually on 20 March, World Oral Health Day (WOHD) was launched by FDI World Dental Federation to raise global awareness on the prevention and control of oral diseases, which affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Under its "Be Proud of Your Mouth" campaign theme, WOHD 2022 hopes to motivate people to value and take care of their mouths and understand that in doing so, they also help protect their overall health, happiness and well-being.
FDI records hundreds of WOHD events that reach millions of people worldwide each year and commends the hard work of WOHD enthusiasts, recognizing outstanding contributions to the campaign through the WOHD Awards. In 2022, Dentsply Sirona proudly sponsors the best branded photo award.
Show your support for the WOHD22 campaign by posting a video or a photo of yourself and the person you are making smile today. Describe what you are doing such as demonstrating a good dental hygiene practice, providing dental treatment, or just flashing a natural smile to cheer someone up. Make sure to use the hashtag #WOHD22!
World Oral Health Day 2022 FDI live event
Ahead of World Oral Health Day (WOHD) on Sunday 20 March, FDI World Dental Federation and prominent stakeholders from the dental industry, got together to discuss the role of innovation and technology in shaping the future of oral health.
In this session, Dentsply Sirona, represented by Prof. Dr. Rainer Seemann, VP Global Clinical Research and Scientific Support, shared perspectives on some of the strategies, technologies and tools that are shaping the future of oral health by helping dental professionals in the prevention, early detection and care of oral diseases so that people can be proud of their mouth.
Watch the full presentation below or click here to register for the full #WOHD22 live event at the oral health campus.
Oral Health Facts
Oral health is central to every person’s overall health, happiness and well-being.
Nearly 3.5 million people around the world suffer from oral diseases. Having gum disease increases the risk of a first heart attack by 64%- According to a 2016 study by the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden.
People who have lost 5 or more teeth by the age of 65 are more likely to suffer cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis- all of which severely limit their life expectancy.
Oral health can be directly connected to your racial, ethnic and socioeconomic background. 28% of non-Hispanic Black Children aged 2 to 5 have cavities in their primary teeth compared with 18% of non-Hispanic white children.
Globally, it is estimated that 530 million children suffer from tooth decay in their primary teeth, which can lead to pain, infection, tooth loss and missed school days.
