The hidden hazards: The silent invasion of microplastics in dentistry (Review)

Every single piece of plastic that has been produced globally, still exists in one form or another.Upon degradation, this plastic may enter the marine or terrestrial environment.Upon its entry, it may cause entanglement, suffocation and death of these life forms or be consumed by the organisms, which disrupts the food chain in the ecosystem.Subsequently, the pieces of plastic become ingested by mammals and humans, and elicit local and systemic toxic reactions.Dentistry, as a profession, generates plastic waste, particularly with the advent of single-use plastics.Plastic waste can be produced in the dental office, through the use of resin-based restorative materials and through the use of oral hygiene measures, such as plastic toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpaste and mouthwashes.Furthermore, the burden of COVID-19 further accelerated the use of plastics in the form of personal protective equipment in an aim to maintain the disinfection protocol and minimise the spread of the virus.The present review provides a summary of dental materials and procedures, which contribute to plastic accumulation and suggest strategies which can be used to mitigate this production towards an ecologically friendly and sustainable environment.Contents 1. Introduction 2. Literature search methods 3. Materials and procedures in dentistry 4. Oral hygiene practices 5. Effects of COVID-19 6. Mitigation strategies and challenges of implementation 7. Conclusion and future perspectives