Study reveals the impact of climate change on dentistry

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 14 April 2025

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NEW DELHI, India: While the effects of climate change on general health are well documented, its impact on oral health remains less explored. A new scoping review has assessed how environmental changes influence dental practices and oral health outcomes. The study suggests that climate change contributes to conditions such as dental caries, erosion and periodontal disease, as well as affects access to dental services. Addressing these challenges requires ongoing research, targeted intervention strategies and a critical review of current policies at the intersection of climate change and oral health, the authors said.

Climate change poses a growing threat to global health. According to the Global Risks Report 2024 published by the World Economic Forum, these impacts are expected to intensify over the next decade. Beyond its direct effects on oral health, climate change may hinder access to dental care owing to financial and logistical disruptions caused by climate-related events.

In their study, the authors reviewed the literature on the impact of climate change on oral health and the dental profession. Ten papers published between 2010 and 2024 were included in the final analysis: four review papers, three editorials, two commentaries and one qualitative study.

The review identified both direct and indirect links between climate change and a wide range of oral health conditions, including caries, erosion, oral cancer, developmental defects of enamel, periodontal disease, dental trauma, and skeletal and dental fluorosis. These associations highlight the serious and wide-reaching potential effects of climate change on oral health.

The review found that extreme weather events can restrict access to dental care, increase oral injuries and heighten the risk of infections and disease owing to poor hygiene and water contamination. It also reported a study that cited higher oral cancer risk owing to increased solar radiation.

Besides these direct effects, the review found that climate change can influence oral health through socio-economic pathways. Poor diet and nutrition—often resulting from climate-related food insecurity—can negatively affect oral health. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change can give rise to stress and mental health challenges, and these in turn may lead to poorer oral hygiene and increased bruxism. The review also noted that climate change exacerbates health inequalities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, particularly low-income, remote and indigenous communities that already experience limited access to dental care and greater oral health disparities.

Sustainable strategies for resilient oral health

The review emphasised the broader impact of climate change on healthcare delivery. For example, it was noted that extreme weather events can disrupt supply chains and transportation systems, leading to shortages of resources and rising costs in dentistry.

In response to these challenges, the authors advocated for more sustainable practices within the dental profession, such as choosing environmentally responsible suppliers and products. They also recommended adopting a circular economy approach to minimise waste and promote sustainability.

The review concluded that dental public health systems must be better equipped to manage the impacts of climate-related events by ensuring continuity of care during emergencies and strengthening community-based oral health programmes. Key recommendations in this regard include expanding the use of teledentistry, enhancing financial resilience planning and improving medication storage to prevent degradation during climate-related events, thereby reducing the risk of ineffective treatment and unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.

Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need for proactive, evidence-based action to ensure that dental care systems remain accessible, resilient and equitable in the face of a changing climate. To that end, the authors also called for increased research funding to deepen understanding of the impact of climate change on oral health and to develop effective long-term strategies.

The study, titled “Impact of climate change on dentistry and oral health: A scoping review”, was published online on 31 March 2025 in BDJ Open.