Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Practices among Brazilian Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess dentists' knowledge of sustainable dental practices, focusing on environmental regulations, dental waste management, and proper disposal. It also to examine the relationship between dentists' sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge of environmental laws in Brazil. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 90 dentists, achieving a 76.9% response rate. Participants completed a structured online questionnaire. The study employed a non-probabilistic snowball sampling strategy, which may limit generalizability. Descriptive statistics were performed, followed by chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Logistic regression analysis explored associations between knowledge and demographic variables. Results: Most participants were female, without a dental specialty, and trained in southern Brazil. Approximately half demonstrated knowledge of environmental legislation and waste management. Male dentists showed lower odds of regarding environmental regulations, suggesting a potential gender-related knowledge disparity (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.10-0.69, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Although the findings indicate some level of awareness, significant gaps in knowledge and training persist - particularly among male dentists. These results reinforce the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into both undergraduate curricula and continuing dental education. Curricular reforms and professional development initiatives are essential to promote eco-conscious practices in dentistry.