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229 - Carbon Emissions from Pediatric Dental Procedures using Inhaled Anesthetics

Saturday, May 23, 2026
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM PST
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Yuying Guo, DMD

    Resident
    Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
    Harvard School of Dental Medicine
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Rosalyn M. Sulyanto, DMD, MS

    Director of Resident Research
    Boston Children's Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

  • MZ

    Min Zhang, DDS

    Pediatric Dentist, Department of Dentistry
    Boston Children's Hospital
    Boston Children's Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • MZ

    Min Zhang, DDS

    Pediatric Dentist, Department of Dentistry
    Boston Children's Hospital
    Boston Children's Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • Isabelle Chase, DDS, FAAPD, FRCD(C)

    Director, Postgraduate Pediatric Dentistry
    Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
    Harvard School of Dental Medicine
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Abstract:
Purpose

Nitrous oxide and other inhaled anesthetic gases, which are widely used in pediatric dentistry, are potent greenhouse gases that significantly contribute to dentistry’s carbon emissions. This study aimed to quantify the carbon emissions associated with the treatment of caries in children in the outpatient clinic and operating room at Boston Children's Hospital.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients who received treatment in the outpatient clinic and/or operating room from June 2024 to December 2025 at Boston Children’s Hospital was conducted to calculate the total carbon emissions in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCO2e) associated with the use of inhaled anesthetic gases and patient travel. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted.



Results

A total of 204 patients were included in the study -- 102 patients were in the outpatient clinic study group, and 102 patients were in the general anesthesia study group. The mean travel distance was 143.30 miles for the outpatient clinic study group and 108.32 miles for the general anesthesia study group. The outpatient clinic study group had a statistically shorter mean duration of use of inhaled anesthetic gas (89.42 minutes) than the general anesthesia study group (95.75 minutes). The total mean carbon emissions for the outpatient clinic study group (202.02 kgCO2e) was statistically higher than the total mean carbon emissions for the general anesthesia study group (71.58 kgCO2e).

Conclusions

The use of nitrous oxide for pediatric dental caries treatment in the outpatient setting significantly increases the total carbon emissions associated with treatment. The completion of treatment with nitrous oxide released nearly triple the carbon emissions released from the completion of equivalent treatment under general anesthesia. This study confirms previous work that demonstrates nitrous oxide as a major contributor to dental care-related carbon emissions.

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