IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/circec/v5y2025i4d10.1007_s43615-025-00561-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Dentists in Promoting Environmental Awareness and Climate Consciousness for Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Chanioti

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

  • Georgios Nikolelis

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
    National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

  • Ioanna Mitsika

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
    National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

  • Maria Antoniadou

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
    (CSAP) University of Piraeus)

Abstract

This study examines the growing importance of sustainability in dental practice, highlighting the role of dentists in cultivating environmental awareness and climate consciousness. The research assesses environmental awareness, practices, and influencing factors among dentists and dental students in Greece. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a Google Forms e-questionnaire, designed specifically for this study, with 78 professional dentists and 75 dental students participating. The questionnaire evaluated attitudes towards environmental protection, awareness of dental practices'environmental impact, and factors influencing eco-friendly behaviors. Findings indicate generally positive attitudes towards environmental protection among both groups. However, eco-friendly engagement varies, with 65% of dental students practicing proper waste management compared to 45% of dentists. While dentists acknowledge their profession's environmental impact, their level of sustainable practice adoption differs, highlighting the need for stronger integration of sustainability in dental education and professional practice. Key factors influencing environmental practices include moral consciousness and the perceived severity of climate change. Notably, dental students demonstrate significantly greater environmental awareness than practicing dentists. These findings report on the need to integrate targeted environmental education into dental curricula and continuing professional development to strengthen sustainable practices in dental care. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of specialized training programs and policy interventions in enhancing environmental consciousness among practicing dentists. Additionally, assessing the long-term impact of these initiatives could provide valuable insights into their role in promoting sustainability within dental practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Chanioti & Georgios Nikolelis & Ioanna Mitsika & Maria Antoniadou, 2025. "The Role of Dentists in Promoting Environmental Awareness and Climate Consciousness for Sustainability," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(4), pages 3645-3669, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:5:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s43615-025-00561-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-025-00561-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43615-025-00561-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s43615-025-00561-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hamed Taherdoost, 2021. "Data Collection Methods and Tools for Research; A Step-by-Step Guide to Choose Data Collection Technique for Academic and Business Research Projects," Post-Print hal-03741847, HAL.
    2. Eun-Jung Woo & Eungoo Kang, 2021. "Employee Environmental Capability and Its Relationship with Corporate Culture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Antonio Gracco & Alberto De Stefani & Giovanni Bruno, 2023. "Influence of New Technology in Dental Care: A Public Health Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-2, April.
    4. Asan Vernyuy Wirba, 2024. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The Role of Government in promoting CSR," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 7428-7454, June.
    5. K. Koppiahraj & S. Bathrinath & V. G. Venkatesh & Venkatesh Mani & Yangyan Shi, 2023. "Optimal sustainability assessment method selection: a practitioner perspective," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 324(1), pages 629-662, May.
    6. Ovidiu-Ioan Moisescu & Oana-Adriana Gică, 2020. "The Impact of Environmental and Social Responsibility on Customer Loyalty: A Multigroup Analysis among Generations X and Y," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Justyna Berniak-Woźny & Małgorzata Rataj, 2023. "Towards Green and Sustainable Healthcare: A Literature Review and Research Agenda for Green Leadership in the Healthcare Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-18, January.
    8. Maria Antoniadou & Anestis Intzes & Christos Kladouchas & Iliana Christou & Stavroula Chatzigeorgiou & Martha Plexida & Valantis Stefanidakis & Ioannis Tzoutzas, 2023. "Factors Affecting Water Quality and Sustainability in Dental Practices in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, June.
    9. Nayeon Kim & Kyungtag Lee, 2023. "Environmental Consciousness, Purchase Intention, and Actual Purchase Behavior of Eco-Friendly Products: The Moderating Impact of Situational Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-17, March.
    10. Maria Antoniadou & Georgios Chrysochoou & Rafael Tzanetopoulos & Elena Riza, 2023. "Green Dental Environmentalism among Students and Dentists in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-24, June.
    11. Matthew J Eckelman & Jodi D Sherman & Andrea J MacNeill, 2018. "Life cycle environmental emissions and health damages from the Canadian healthcare system: An economic-environmental-epidemiological analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, July.
    12. Ingrid Stegeman & Alba Godfrey & Maria Romeo-Velilla & Ruth Bell & Brigit Staatsen & Nina van der Vliet & Hanneke Kruize & George Morris & Timothy Taylor & Rosa Strube & Kirsti Anthun & Monica Lillefj, 2020. "Encouraging and Enabling Lifestyles and Behaviours to Simultaneously Promote Environmental Sustainability, Health and Equity: Key Policy Messages from INHERIT," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-22, September.
    13. K. Koppiahraj & S. Bathrinath & V.G. Venkatesh & V. Mani & Y. Shi, 2023. "Optimal Sustainability Assessment Method Selection: A Practitioner Perspective," Post-Print hal-04435444, HAL.
    14. Maria Antoniadou & Theodoros Varzakas & Ioannis Tzoutzas, 2021. "Circular Economy in Conjunction with Treatment Methodologies in the Biomedical and Dental Waste Sectors," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 563-592, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Antoniadou, 2024. "Integrating Lean Management and Circular Economy for Sustainable Dentistry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Erin Octaviani & Ilyas Masudin & Amelia Khoidir & Dian Palupi Restuputri, 2025. "Material Flow Analysis for Demand Forecasting and Lifetime-Based Inflow in Indonesia’s Plastic Bag Supply Chain," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-27, August.
    3. Edson da Silva Santos & Wesley Douglas Oliveira Silva & Marcele Elisa Fontana & Pedro Carmona Marques & Hemmylly Cawanne Pedro & Renata de Oliveira Mota & Vilmar Nepomuceno, 2025. "Circular Strategic Options for Ethanol Supply Chain Resilience Under Uncertainties Using a Composition of Probabilities Group Decision Model," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-26, May.
    4. Veera Suchitra & Bietsch Samantha & Jones Susan & Ward Paul, 2024. "Systematic Literature Review of Corporate Sustainability and Financial Performance Linkages," Management of Organizations: Systematic Research, Sciendo, vol. 91(1), pages 115-142.
    5. Francesca Di Cicco & Maike Loos & Isa Vos & Rebecca Gibson & Yuvesveri Naidoo & Susan Gifford & Monique A. M. Smeets, 2024. "The Smell of Sustainability: Understanding Consumers’ Acceptability of Recycled Plastic Packaging with an Off-Odor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-26, June.
    6. Hensher, Martin & Canny, Ben & Zimitat, Craig & Campbell, Julie & Palmer, Andrew, 2020. "Health care, overconsumption and uneconomic growth: A conceptual framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    7. Made Adi Widyatmika & Pratik Badgujar & Sisir Debnath & Ankush Agrawal & Nomesh Bhojkumar Bolia, 2025. "Enhancing waste segregation through non-financial interventions: insights from a randomized controlled trial in a campus setting," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Maria João Salvador Costa & Alexandra Leitão & Rosa Silva & Vanessa Monteiro & Pedro Melo, 2022. "Climate Change Prevention through Community Actions and Empowerment: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-37, November.
    9. Georgios Giakoumakis & Dorothea Politi & Dimitrios Sidiras, 2021. "Medical Waste Treatment Technologies for Energy, Fuels, and Materials Production: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-30, December.
    10. Catherine Lalman & Hirushie Karunathilake & Rajeev Ruparathna, 2023. "To Dispose or to Reuse? Analyzing the Life Cycle Impacts and Costs of Disposal, Sterilization, and Reuse of Electrophysiological Catheters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    11. Jessica F. Davies & Forbes McGain & Jillian J. Francis, 2023. "Consensus on Prioritisation of Actions for Reducing the Environmental Impact of a Large Tertiary Hospital: Application of the Nominal Group Technique," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    12. João M. Lopes & Micaela Pinho & Sofia Gomes, 2024. "From green hype to green habits: Understanding the factors that influence young consumers' green purchasing decisions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2432-2444, March.
    13. Marcelo Werneck Barbosa, 2022. "A Critical Appraisal of Review Studies in Circular Economy: a Tertiary Study," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 473-505, June.
    14. David Duindam, 2022. "Transitioning to Sustainable Healthcare: Decarbonising Healthcare Clinics, a Literature Review," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Dongyi Ji & Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp & Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp & Vikas Kumar, 2025. "When Mindful Consumption Meets Green Purchase Intention: Empirical Evidence on How a Mindful Mindset Influences Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-22, February.
    16. Norlelawati Jamaludin & Nuryusmawati Mohd Yusof & Faizah Maishahadi & Faizah Sohid & Syed Asherene Syed Syed Omar & Mohd Fikri Ishak & Syed Mustaqim Syed Yusof & Janiffa Saidon, 2024. "Determinants of Online Dating Application Among Millennials," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(3), pages 750-760.
    17. Jeongah Kim & Eungoo Kang, 2022. "An Empirical Study of How Both Environmental Awareness and Interest in Artwork Can Be Incorporated into the Interior Design of Urban Hotels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-22, January.
    18. Jeeyoung Park & Kiyoung Chang, 2024. "How Perceived Proximity to Climate Change Threats Affects Pro-Environmental Behaviors in South Korea?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-12, August.
    19. Matilda Asafo-Adjei & Stanley K.M. Semarco, 2024. "The Effect of Teacher-Led School Aims and Objectives on Teacher Problem-Solving Skills in Ghana," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(11), pages 2687-2706, November.
    20. Muhamad Khairul Anuar Zulkepli & Mohd Fahimi Zakaria & Mohd Adi Amzar Bin Muhammad Nawawi, 2025. "The Role of TikTok in Promoting Arabic Language Learning among Millennials and Gen Z," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3), pages 4729-4738, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:5:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s43615-025-00561-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.