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The earth is at a tipping point, and the scale and speed of the crisis are overwhelming. Reversing waste, pollution, toxicity, and ecosystem collapses will only be successful on a large scale. Dentistry has the power to scale up eco-sustainable choices! Globally, healthcare contributes 4.6% of total greenhouse emissions annually, paradoxically, increasing the need for healthcare. Single use products and plastics are used to improve immediate safety, effectiveness, and efficiency, but must be balanced against long term, global safety.

This webinar critically analyzes the value of some of the easiest “eco-friendly” steps, considering important safety standards and outcomes, weighing immediate benefits against delayed consequences. Sustainable options for transportation of people and supplies, product packaging and design, and buying strategies are proposed. Substituting reusable products for disposable items is analyzed for safety, environmental impact, and practicality. Plastic waste, including micro-plastics, are discussed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Explain the need to protect the environment while achieving clinical excellence and safety.
2. Consider supply chain factors that should be changed to more sustainable products and methods.
3. Describe benefits and methods of reducing transportation and waste generated by dentistry.

• Members and Non-Members: Free 

SPEAKERS: 

Nancy Dewhirst, RDH, graduated from the University of Southern California, practiced dental hygiene for 20 years, is adjunct dental hygiene faculty at West Coast University, and is a member of Sigma Phi Alpha. Ms. Dewhirst is consistently listed as one of the nation’s “Leaders in CE”, presents over 100 seminars a year, is featured at major U.S. and Canadian Dental Conferences, and is a member of the California Dental Association Speakers Bureau. She is an ANSI/ADA Standards Program member and committee chair, Editor-in-Chief of OSAP’s Infection Control In Practice, has had many articles published in dental peer-reviewed journals, and has contributed to dental textbooks and guidance documents.

Disclosures: No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Laurie Houston, DDS is a 1985 graduate of U of T Faculty of Dentistry. Laurie is the current Chair of the recently established Environmental Sustainability Working Group of the ODA, a Director on the ODA Board, the creator and moderator of an internationally attended online lecture series: Global Village Speakers Series, and the ED of CanHelp Through HealthCare (chthc.org), a nonprofit she created to deliver dentistry ethically to underserved countries.

Disclosures: No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

OSAP is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

OSAP designates this activity for 1 continuing education credit.

Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org.

Learn more about OSAP’s CE Program & Provider Recognition.

CE CREDITS: 1.0
EDUCATIONAL METHOD: Lecture and Q&A
COURSE TYPE: Live webinar
LOCATION: Online
PREREQUISITE:  None - Recommended for All