Effects of climate change on oral health: sustainable environment and future scope – A Review
Authors/Creators
- 1. Undergraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SRM Kattankulathur Dental College and Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India.
- 2. Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SRM Kattankulathur Dental College and Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India
Description
The objective of this review is to assess the impact of climate change on oral health and estimate the sustainability of oral health care practices in the context of environmental change. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to evaluate the relationship between climate change, environmental sustainability and oral health. The study focuses on analyzing how climate-induced changes and health care practices contribute to oral health outcomes. Finding suggest that climate change influences oral health through altered environmental conditions and increased exposure to pollutants and pathogens. Additionally, clinical practices by oral health professionals contribute significantly to resource consumption and environment degradation. Social determinants, such as access to care and education, mediate the effects of climate change on oral health. Climate change poses a growing risk to oral health, emphasizing the need for environmentally sustainable practices in oral health care. Implementing population-level health promotion and preventive strategies can mitigate the impact of climate change on oral health outcomes.