McGill’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is calculating the carbon footprint of its entire operation, including several clinics that serve the public, the faculty announced Wednesday.
From dentists’ latex gloves to patients’ commutes, the faculty aims to be sustainable in every aspect of its dental care. Its goal is to become one of the first fully sustainable dental faculties in the world.
“I want to spark a global reflection. I want to share our findings and engage the broader dental community to identify targets we can set to drive real, sustainable change,” said Christophe Bedos, a full professor in the faculty who is leading the project.
“Imagine you’ve had a tooth removed. Instead of returning to the clinic for a check-up, we could do it over Zoom or by phone,” Bedos added.
The faculty has enlisted help from Synergie Santé Environnement, a Quebec-based non-profit that guides healthcare organizations in adopting greener practices.
McGill’s Sustainability Projects Fund is contributing $54,500 to the project.
On Oct. 25, Bedos will deliver a master class on the need for more decarbonized dentistry, citing data.