Single-use plastics in orthodontic practice in the UK: A service evaulation

This service evaluation aimed to estimate the number and mass of SUPs used by orthodontic providers in primary and secondary care settings (1) per year and (2) per course of treatment (COT) to identify potential strategies for SUP reduction.

A multicentre, prospective service evaluation was undertaken across six primary and three secondary care orthodontic providers in the north of England (UK). Two dental undergraduate students observed orthodontic appointments and recorded the number and mass of SUPs used during review and treatment appointments using a piloted data collection sheet. Mean SUP use was calculated for each appointment type and extrapolated to annual and COT estimates.

Across all sites, 133 orthodontic appointments were observed. An average of 9.5 SUPs per review and 13.9 SUPs per treatment appointment were used in primary care, weighing 37 g and 44.6 g, respectively. In secondary care, an average of 9.3 SUPs per review and 14.9 SUPs per treatment appointment were used, weighing 41 g and 73.4 g, respectively. It was estimated that a primary care orthodontic provider would use 187,200 SUPs annually weighing 652.8 kg, and 237 SUPs per COT weighing 0.78 kg. In secondary care, it was estimated that an orthodontic provider would use 193,000 SUPs annually weighing 915.2 kg, and 296.1 SUPs per COT weighing 1.44 kg.

This service evaluation provided a baseline estimate of SUP use in orthodontic care settings. It offers insight into the potential waste generated by an orthodontic provider per year and per COT, which indicates where SUP use could potentially be reduced.