Dentistry news – Going sustainable in dentistry is easier than you think

Dentistry news - Going sustainable in dentistry is easier than you think

Dentistry news and updates from Flame Health. Mark Topley gives an insight into sustainability in the dental sector and outlines some ways that you can make your practice more sustainable.

Mark, thank you for speaking with us. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do? 

My name is Mark Topley. I basically help dentists to have more successful practices by helping them become more sustainable, responsible, enjoyable places to work.

I came into dentistry around 2003, so a little while ago now. For a long time, I worked with a charity called Bridge2aid and I was based overseas with them. When I left Bridge2aid about five years ago, I set up this practice, which is all about helping businesses to be more responsible.

This comes from my background as a charity CEO, combined with my interest in sustainability and those sorts of things.  

What are the issues with sustainability – or lack of – in the dental profession? 

People most often think about single use and how much of an issue it is. It’s one of the things that people say they get most frustrated about. 

Obviously, during the pandemic, PPE was a big issue and having to dispose of those things. The use of plastics is an issue. 

Travel is also a big issue; a lot of a practice’s carbon footprint is the travel to and from the practice by the team and the patients. Clinical waste is an issue, regulation is an issue. There are lots of different things that combine.  

But I think, although single use is a big issue, it’s not by any means the only issue and it’s something that people can certainly do something about. 

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Dentistry news - Going sustainable in dentistry is easier than you think