Environmental sustainability has now entered the field of dentistry. At an international scientific forum organized by the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), on Thursday (9/26), academics and healthcare professionals from various parts of the world gathered to discuss the future of more environmentally friendly healthcare services.
The keynote speaker was Brigadier General Dr. drg. Lisda Cancer, M.Biotech., a senior officer of the Indonesian National Police and a prominent national forensic expert. In her scientific presentation, titled “From Oral Health to Planetary Health: An Ethical Perspective on Sustainable Dentistry,” she emphasized the importance of repositioning dental professional ethics to include the protection of the planet.
The event, moderated by drg. Achmad Zam Zam Aghasy, M.Kes., was conducted dynamically and produced several important points regarding both the challenges and concrete solutions involved in implementing environmentally responsible healthcare services.
Here are the key points we need to know about this paradigm shift in the medical world:
1. The Often-Overlooked Ecological Footprint of Dental Clinics
Although a single dental clinic may appear small, the cumulative impact of thousands of clinics around the world contributes significantly to environmental degradation.
- Medical Waste Accumulation: Thousands of masks, gloves, and disposable suction tips are discarded every day.
- The Domino Effect: Through the Planetary Health paradigm, it becomes clear that environmental degradation caused by pollution and climate change ultimately harms human health—including by contributing to oral diseases.
2. Rethinking the Ethics of Modern Dentistry
Dr. Lisda expanded the four conventional principles of medical ethics so that dentists would not only save patients but also help protect the environment:
- Beneficence: Choose treatment options and materials that cause the least ecological harm.
- Non-Maleficence: Apply the principle of do no harm by managing medical waste carefully so that it does not contaminate the environment or endanger communities.
- Autonomy: Educate patients honestly about more environmentally friendly treatment options.
- Justice: Conserve water and energy in clinics today to protect future generations' right to live in a healthy environment.
“Ultimately, a healthy smile can only survive on a healthy planet.”
— Brig. Gen. Dr. drg. Lisda Cancer, M.Biotech.
3. The Most Powerful Weapon: Prevention
During the question-and-answer session, a participant named Vanaj raised a dilemma: in developing countries where even basic access to dental care remains limited, which should take priority—access to care or environmental concerns?
Dr. Lisda offered a practical answer. According to her, the two issues do not need to be treated as opposing priorities because the key to sustainability lies precisely in prevention.
- One Action, Multiple Benefits: Educating communities to prevent tooth decay is one of the most environmentally friendly measures available.
- Overall Efficiency: The logic is simple: if teeth do not develop cavities, clinical procedures are unnecessary, fewer disposable medical materials are discarded, and patients do not need to generate carbon emissions by repeatedly traveling to clinics.
4. Private Clinics Face Stricter Regulations
Responding to concerns from another participant, Meswari Santika, about the future of private-clinic operations, Dr. Lisda emphasized that Indonesian law is already well equipped to address this issue.
Private clinics can no longer treat environmental responsibility casually because national regulations provide clear mandates:
- Health Law No. 17 of 2023: Requires the integration of preventive and promotive services in line with environmentally friendly principles.
- Environmental Protection and Management Law No. 32 of 2009: Requires every dental clinic to manage its environmental impacts responsibly, from strict segregation of medical waste to providing a wastewater treatment plant (Instalasi Pengolahan Air Limbah, or IPAL) where required to secure a practice license.
The future direction of dentistry is now clear. Dentists are no longer merely healers working inside clinical rooms; they are increasingly becoming stewards of the Earth's ecosystems.
Reporter: Nanda, Andri
Photo: Zoom Meeting Screenshot