Eco-friendly dentistry: Awareness and its implementation among private dental practitioners of Mangalore taluk of Karnataka, South India – A cross sectional study

Nafiya Abdul Aziz; Anupama Rao; Vijaya Kumar; Neevan D’souza

doi:10.51248/.v43i5.3471

Authors

Nafiya Abdul Aziz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2709-5316
Anupama Rao https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6824-2004
Vijaya Kumar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1270-8036
Neevan D’souza https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4043-9638

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51248/.v43i5.3471

Keywords:

survey, private practice, Awareness, implementation, environment, Dentistry

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Promotion of optimal usage of non-toxic materials, alternative energy sources, reusable products, minimising paper waste and negligible carbon footprints has brought eco-friendly dentistry in limelight. The aim of the study was to evaluate the awareness and practice regarding eco-friendly dentistry among private dental practitioners of Mangalore Taluk, South India.

Materials and Methods: A total of 104 Dental practitioners with a qualification of BDS/MDS, practicing dentistry were randomly participated in a study after obtaining institutional ethical clearance. A total of 30 item closed-ended self-designed validated questionnaires were provided among participants. Assessment of knowledge and practice of the participants were carried out under four sections 1) Radiographic waste management, 2) Biomedical waste management, 3) Amalgam management, and 4) Eco-friendly dental practice. Knowledge, attitude and practice of eco-friendly dentistry among all the dental practitioners were assessed using descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact/chi -square test.

Results: Present study did not find any statistically significant difference in attitude, knowledge and practice among BDS and MDS dental practitioners, among male and female practitioners and among practitioners with and without 10 years of experience. 57% participants agreed to the fact that lack of awareness is a major barrier to implement eco- friendly dentistry at practice.

Conclusion: Conducting CDE programs, workshops, and seminars can bring change and foster a favourable attitude among dentists about transitioning from conventional to green dentistry. Governmental policies can be framed towards eco-friendly dental practice in order to implement green dental practice compulsorily by all the dental practitioners.

Author Biographies

Nafiya Abdul Aziz

Department of Prosthodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India

Anupama Rao

Department of Periodontology, Yenepoya Dental College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India

Vijaya Kumar

Department of Periodontology, Yenepoya Dental College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India

Neevan D’souza

Department of Biostatistics, Nitte Deemed to be University, Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India

References

Jiang, G. Preface to the special topic on environmental pollution and health risk. Natl Sci Rev. 2016;3(4):409.

Rastogi, V., Sharma, R., Yadav, L., Satpute, P., Sharma, V. Green dentistry, a metamorphosis towards an eco-friendly dentistry: A short communication. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8:1-2.

Shatrat, A., Shuman, SM., Darby, D., Jeng, M.L. Jordanian dentists’ knowledge and implementation of eco-friendly dental office strategies Int Dent. J. 2013;63:161-68.

Holland, C. Greening up the bottom line Br Dent J. 2014; 217(1):10-11.

Tibau, A.V., Grube, B.D. Mercury contamination from Dental Amalgam. J Health Pollut. 2019;9(22):190612.

Al-Qarni, M.A., Shakeela, N.V., Alamri, M.A., Alshaikh, Y.A. Awareness of eco-friendly dentistry among dental faculty and students of King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2016;10(10):75-78.

Muhamedagic, B., Muhamedagic, L., Masic, I. Dental office waste - public health and ecological risk. Mater Sociomed. 2009; 21:35-38.

Mohelay, N., Shravani, G.D., Dolly, J., Rashmi, L., Chapekar, J. Eco-friendly dentistry: A green business with teeth. Int J Oral Health Med Res. 2016;3(2):66-70.

Johnson, W.J., Pichay, T.J. Dentistry, amalgam, and pollution prevention. J Calif Dent Assoc. 2001;29(7):509-517.

Prathima, V., Vellore, K.P., Kotha, A., Malathi, S., Kumar, V.S., Koneru, M. Knowledge, attitude and practices towards eco-friendly dentistry among dental practitioners. Journal of Research Dentistry. 2017;4(4):123-127.

Chopra, A., Raju, K. Green dentistry: Practices and perceived barriers among dental practitioners of Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali (Tri-city), India. Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry.2017;15(1):53.

Kulkarni, S.S., Sushanth, V.H., Prashant, G.M., Imranulla, M., Vivek, H.P. da Costa FD. Current knowledge, attitude and practices of dental residents towards biomedical waste management: A cross sectional study. Journal of Global Oral Health. 2019;2(23):23-28.

Arora, S., Mittal, S., Dogra, V. Eco-friendly dentistry: Need of future. An overview. J Dent Allied Sci. 2017;6:22-27.

Chadha, G.M., Panchmal, G.S., Shenoy, R.P., Siddique, S., Jodalli, P. Establishing an eco-friendly dental practice: A review. IJSS Case Rep Rev. 2015;1:78-81.

Sen, N., Bhat, N., Shah, R., Goyal, K., Patel, D., Mandal, A. Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding green dentistry in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India: A revolutionary challenge for dentists. Int J Recent Sci Res. 2017;8:22202- 22208.

Sawair, F.A., Hassouneh, Y., Jamleh, A.O., Al-Rababah, M. Observance of proper mercury hygiene practices by Jordanian general dental practitioners. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2010;23(1):47-54.

Khairuldeen, N., Sadig, W.M. Amalgam safety and alternative restorative materials: A cross-sectional survey among dentists Saudi Dent. J. 1996;8:27-33.

Udoye, C., Aguwa, E. Amalgam safety and dentists’ attitude: a survey among subpopulation of Nigerian dentists. Oper Dent. 2008;33(4):467-471.

Ramesh, K.K., Ramesh, M., Krishnan R. Management and disposal of mercury and amalgam in the dental clinics of south India: A cross-sectional study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2019; 11(Suppl 2):S151-S155.

Kishore, J., Goel, P., Sagar, B., Joshi, T.K. Awareness about biomedical waste management and infection control among dentists of a teaching hospital in New Delhi, India. Indian J Dent Res. 2000;11(4):157-161.

Sudhakar, V., Chandrashekar. J. Dental health care waste disposal among private dental practices in Bangalore City, India. Int Dent J. 2008; 58(1):51-54.

Avinash, B., Avinash, B.S., Shivalinga, B.M., Jyothikiran, S., Padmini, M.N. Going green with eco-friendly dentistry. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2013; 14(4):766-769.

Cunningham, W.P., Cunningham, M.A. Environmental science: A global concern, 8thed. Blaes J Green, clean, and keen Dent Econ. 2008; 99:112-113.

Elliott-Smith, S. Green dental hygiene: Eco-friendly practices that anyone can adopt. Access. 2008; 22(1):23-26.

Pockrass, F., Pockrass, I. The four ‘Rs’ of Eco-friendly dentistry. Am Dent Pract Can Dent Assoc. 2008; 22(8):18-21.