Sustainability as part of a quality framework for the organisation of oral healthcare

This paper aims to highlight to the reader that the organisation of dentistry at a system level lags behind other healthcare professions in regulation, policy, education and research. It argues that seeing sustainability as being as important as safety in oral healthcare quality would begin to rectify this. For the practitioner, it also identifies existing guidance on practising sustainably and reinforces that it does not require radical change but evidence-based care. Key points Highlights that the organisation of dentistry at a system level lags behind other healthcare professions in regulation, policy, education and research. Proposes a new quality framework for the organisation of oral healthcare that sees its sustainability as important as its safety. Identifies existing guidance on practising sustainably and reinforces that it does not require radical change, but evidence-based, prevention-focused care.