What if the future of dentistry is not only about saving teeth—but also saving the planet?
That question is rapidly moving from theory to frontline clinical reality, and this year’s FDI Sustainability Ambassador Prize winners have just shown the global dental profession what that future can look like.
In a powerful recognition of leadership, innovation, and environmental responsibility, FDI World Dental Federation has announced Dr Aldrin Andre Huaman Mendoza and Dr Jacqueline Armstrong as this year’s Sustainability Ambassador Prize recipients—two professionals whose work is helping push dentistry toward a greener, lower-carbon future.
Their recognition comes at a time when healthcare systems worldwide are under growing pressure to reduce waste, optimize resources, and shrink their carbon footprint without compromising patient care.
Awarded annually, the Sustainability Ambassador Prize celebrates professionals who move beyond discussion into real-world implementation, translating sustainability principles into practical solutions for dental education, clinics, and everyday patient care.
Both winners distinguished themselves through their participation in FDI’s second Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Sustainability in Dentistry, a globally accessible learning platform designed to equip dentists, dental teams, and students with evidence-based strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of oral healthcare.
Their final competitive submissions stood out for:
- practical innovation
- real-world feasibility
- education-driven implementation
- measurable sustainability impact
- leadership potential across the profession
A panel of experts from the FDI Sustainability in Dentistry Task Team praised the winning solutions for their clarity and actionable value.
The bigger story here is what this says about the direction of modern dentistry.
Sustainability is no longer a niche talking point.
It is becoming a core professional responsibility, touching everything from:
- clinical waste reduction
- instrument sterilization efficiency
- energy use
- procurement choices
- plastics and packaging
- prevention-focused care pathways
- patient education
- supply chain accountability
FDI’s broader Sustainability in Dentistry project was created specifically to help reduce the profession’s collective CO₂ footprint, engaging practitioners, patients, and the supply chain in a shared environmental mission.
This is where the story becomes globally relevant: small clinical decisions inside dental practices can now influence system-wide environmental outcomes.
The success of Dr Aldrin Andre Huaman Mendoza and Dr Jacqueline Armstrong reflects more than personal achievement.
It symbolizes a new generation of oral health professionals who understand that excellent dentistry must also be environmentally responsible dentistry.
Their leadership sends a powerful signal to dental schools, clinics, policymakers, and young professionals: the next era of oral healthcare will be shaped by those willing to challenge wasteful traditions and build smarter, greener systems.
In that sense, this award is not just about two winners.
It is about where the entire dental profession is heading next.
The Sustainability Ambassador Prize is supported by Dentsply Sirona, whose continued backing helps accelerate sustainable transformation across the dental sector. FDI’s wider sustainability initiative is also supported by Haleon, Sunstar, Colgate, Kulzer, SDI Limited
Together, these partnerships are helping create a profession-wide sustainability ecosystem that may soon define global best practice in oral healthcare.
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