What can your dentist do to help the environment?
In today’s world we are all becoming more conscious of our impact on the environment, and the need to minimise this impact. Traditionally, the dental and medical fields are large contributors of plastic waste and are increasingly exploring ways in which to become more environmentally responsible, without compromising their strict sterilisation and infection control procedures.
Some ways in which dental practices can consciously reduce their environmental impact:
- Reducing use of single-use, disposable items, and maximising the use of instruments that can be sterilised in an autoclave
- Use of biodegradable barriers, packaging and PPE where possible
- Conscious waste minimization during appointments
- Use of LED lightbulbs and solar power
- Use of digital imaging and xrays (eliminates the need for disposal of harmful chemicals)
- Recycle all packaging and cardboard
- Maintain a ‘paperless’ office through use of online forms, digital records and digital sharing of information
- The promotion and sale of sustainable products (such as bamboo toothbrushes)
- Focusing on prevention and oral health education to eliminate the need for excessive treatment
- Eliminating the use of amalgam fillings (silver fillings) which contain mercury – in favour of resin-based alternatives (tooth-coloured fillings)
As a newly-established practice, we have been able to set up Polar Dental to consciously focus on our environmental impact as much as possible, allowing our patients to feel positive about their dental experience in more ways than one.