Sustainable dentistry: your how-to guide for equipment and supplies

In this second instalment in our series drawn from the ADA-created Sustainable Dentistry: How-to Guide for Australian Dental Practices which includes tips on becoming a sustainable practice, we explore how dental teams can make procurement of equipment and supplies more environmentally friendly.

Sustainability has increasingly become a focus for many industries and professions worldwide and dentistry, of course, is no exception.

The increased attention to this pressing issue has led the ADA to develop a sustainability guide for practices and clinics which not only explains the situation at hand but offers practical, simple-to-employ ways in which dental professionals can become sustainable in day-to-day practice.

The Sustainable Dentistry: How-to Guide for Australian Dental Practices contains six modules including the one discussed in this article on equipment and supplies.

The manufacture and distribution of any object comes with significant environmental impacts including the release of pollutants to air, land, and water as well as changes to land use and biodiversity. Dental teams can have an influence on this environmental impact, and additionally reduce costs into the bargain, by reviewing their stock management processes to reduce the frequency of ordering and minimise waste.

For a practice to be sustainable, there needs to be engagement with suppliers which encourages the supplier to become more environmentally sustainable in the manufacture, packaging, travel, recycling, and reuse of their products. This needs to include limiting the purchase of plastic and plastic-packaged items, encouraging plastic recycling, and liaising with manufacturers about their plastic use and sustainability.

Practices seeking to meet their sustainability goals should also look for ways to use products containing safer and more sustainable chemicals which will have environmental benefits and health benefits for staff and patients. in addition, they should phase down the use of amalgam in line with the ‘Minamata Convention on Mercury’ (effective from August 2017) and consider buying second-hand items through online sites such as the dental classifieds portal.
 

How to optimise stock management
 

To minimise the frequency of stock orders, it’s crucial to understand your current inventory levels and daily consumption patterns. Documenting your processes is recommended as it will allow you to reflect on your current processes and find ways to be more efficient. Not only will this help you onboard new staff quickly but you will also be able to make informed predictions about when you might run low on stock and plan ahead.

When ordering equipment and supplies, keep these key points in mind:

- Assess your finances including expenditure, freight costs and bulk ordering savings;

- Evaluate your current ordering processes;

- Set practice-wide ordering goals to decrease costs, save time, and reduce carbon emissions;

- Create a stocktake list (a template is available via the link below);

- Prepare for bulk ordering;

- Evaluate suppliers to find one aligned with your sustainability goals;

- Place bulk orders; and

- Ensure accurate record-keeping and staff training for receiving and verifying stock orders.

In one example of how this might work in practice, a practice manager is able to track all current stock via a spreadsheet, a process which also includes a scheduled monthly audit. This system of regular assessment, which highlights products nearing expiry, means that stored close-to-expiry stock can be placed up front so it’s clear what needs to be used first. Employing such a system allows stock needs to be predicted, meaning orders are completed less frequently, which reduces the associated carbon emissions from transport.
 

Download the module 
 

This module and beyond
 

The How-to Guide for Australian Dental Practices (the Guide) has been developed as a practical resource for Australian dental teams wishing take action to make their practice more sustainable.

The Guide aims to provide dental professionals in Australia with an introductory resource that explores practical strategies and actionable steps which empowers dental teams to make informed decisions and implement sustainable changes.

Explore all six modules and learn how you can build a cost-effective sustainable practice.

A three-hour Massive Open Online Course on Sustainability in Dentistry from the FDI World Dental Federation, of which the ADA is a member, is also available. This course aims to help dentists, dental teams, and students to understand the importance of sustainable practices and their own role in championing environmental responsibility within dentistry.