Attitude Towards Sustainability in Dentistry: The Evidence From Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

The field of dentistry is characterised by its substantial energy consumption and resource utilisation, resulting in a notable ecological footprint. Thus, sustainability in dentistry is an important but underresearched concern. The influence of public pressure on sustainability has been extensively studied across other industries; nevertheless, there is a dearth of research examining its impact on the dental sector specifically in Saudi Arabia. The current study conducted the first-ever survey in Saudi Arabia to investigate the prevailing attitudes with regard to sustainable dentistry amongst the general population of the country.

This was an online cross-sectional observational survey conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to adults aged 18 years and older, of both genders, from March to April 2023. The study obtained appropriate ethical approval.

Participants expressed a positive attitude with regard to sustainable dentistry and demonstrated their openness regarding compromising in terms of time, convenience, cost, and even the appearance of their teeth in order to minimise the environmental impact resulting from dental procedures. It is also evident that a correlation exists between gender-associated beliefs and proenvironmental behaviour, particularly in the context of sustainable dentistry and related environmental intentions in Saudi Arabia.

The findings of this study represent an important complement to the existing sustainability knowledge and understanding in dentistry, which will be helpful for policymakers as well as dental professionals to develop or modify policy, regulation, and professional curriculum.