This document discusses creating a green and responsible dental practice. It recommends minimizing waste and pollution from dental procedures by reducing mercury use, properly disposing of hazardous materials like x-ray fixer and lead, and using steam sterilization instead of chemicals. It also suggests saving energy and water through practices like using LED lights, fixing leaks, and digital records. A green dental practice should be wellness-focused and use high-tech innovations to provide eco-friendly care.

1. Green & Responsible Dentistry
From here to where…?

2. Prof. Dr. NEERAJ TANEJA
MDS, MBA, PGDFS
Professor & Head,
Dept. of Oral Medicine & Radiology
Rayat Bahra Dental College, Mohali (Pb)
Consultant, abc dentistry, Dera Bassi, Mohali

3. • Profession dedicated to
promoting & enhancing oral
health and well-being of the
patients
Dentistry
• causes a
To
achieve
this GOAL
Introduction

4. All plastics — and all the
other stuff that’s thrown
away in a dental office
— creates a lot of waste
Other pollutants include
Dental lights, electricity
consumption, paints,
air-compressors etc.

5. All this contributes to the
larger carbon footprint
of the area we work in
Dental industry is the
SINGLE LARGEST
contributor of mercury to
the water supplies
Studies shows that
dentists cause
400 times
more hazards to the
environment than the
other professions

6. Our resources are
very precious
GREEN
DENTISTRY
which is simply a
natural extension
of other
eco-friendly
efforts

7. Aim
To raise widespread awareness of
environmental alternatives in the dental
community
To stimulate action based on the
recommendations made

8. The Eco-Dentistry Association
defines GREEN DENTISTRY as practice that:
 Reduces waste and pollution;
 Saves energy, water and money;
 Incorporates high-tech innovations;
 Is wellness based

9. To facilitate the
adoption of positive
changes to minimize
dentistry’s
environmental impact
To promote a leading
role for dentistry in
environmental
stewardship
The Concept

10. • Amalgam Waste
• Used X-ray Fixer
• X-ray developer
• Lead foils & lead sheets
• Cleaners for x-ray developer systems
• Disinfectants
• Chemical waste
• Other – Blood, sharps & office wastes
Waste & Pollution

11. Amalgam
Particles
• Old fillings -
Removed
• New fillings -
Mixed
Mercury
• Persistent &
toxic
contaminant
Amalgam Waste

12. Waste
water
If flush down,
goes to main
stream water
system where it
cannot be
removed by local
wastewater
treatment
Inceration
Hg - Volatilize &
enter the
atmosphere
Then precipitates
to the ground or
waterbody
Autoclave
the volatilized
mercury will
escape from the
autoclave
when the door is
opened, presenting
Immediate health
hazard to dental
office staff
Garbage
it may eventually
be incinerated or
placed in a landfill.
If discarded
amalgam scrap
ends up in a
landfill,
it may lead to soil
and/or water
contamination
Accidental spills of mercury - If poured into the drain, it may settle
in sink traps, gradually releasing into the wastewater over time

13. • ADA - Stored under a small amount of
photographic fixer in a closed container labeled
Scrap Amalgam
• Use amalgam substitutes
• Convert to single use amalgam capsule
• In case of mercury spill – Use nitrile gloves &
clean up immediately
Reduce Mercury Contamination

14. UsedFixer
Hazardous waste
High Silver
content
Easily
Recyclable Silverrecoveryunit
If you comply
with hazardous
waste recycling
requirement
Sell/Outsource
Company that
operates silver
recovery unit
Reclaimer will
pay
Make sure you
get receipt / cert.
Reduces
business liability
Used X-ray fixer

15. X-ray Developer
DO NOT MIX
x-ray developer &
used X-ray fixer
silver-laden
USED X-RAY FIXER
is considered
hazardous waste &
can not be flushed
down the drain
Waste developer can
typically be sewered
if not mixed with
fixer
Flush the drain
thoroughly as you
discharge developer
down the drain

16. Lead Foils, Sheets & Aprons
Lead foil that shields X-ray film or protective
lead shields should not be disposed of in the
garbage
Lead is hazardous waste unless they are
recycled for their scrap metal content
Companies which recycle amalgam or fixer may
also accept lead waste

17. Usually such
cleaners contain
chromium which
is hazardous
Hence use
Chromium free
Cleaners
Cleaners for x-ray developer systems

18. Disinfectants
Follow directions
- Proper handling
- Disposal of used
disinfectants &
cleaners +residue
remaining in the
product container
Recycle empty
container
- Local program
- Dispose of it
in the trash
Adopt
ECO-
FRIENDLY
CLEANING

19. Chemiclave Waste
• Liquid left over from the chemical
sterilization of dental instruments
Spent
Chemiclave
• Used solution is an ignitable waste
because it contains more than 24%
alcohol & has a flashpoint below 140ºF
Why…?
• Dilute - At least 4 parts of water to
one part chemiclave solution before
discharging down the drain
Discard
Do not wash the chemiclave solution down
the drain undiluted, or put in the garbage

20. Small amount
Blood that will not drip out of the materials can be placed in the garbage
Swabs or dressings
that are bloody and dripping need to be treated as infectious medical waste
Blood
Flowable quantities of blood may be
sewered
Bulk amounts of blood should not be
disposed of into a septic system
Other Wastes

21. Sharps
Needles,
scalpels,
reamers,
broaches &
other sharp
objects
Not be placed in
the garbage even
if they are
sterilized
Rigid, Puncture-
resistant &
labelled container
Disposal should
be through a
licensed
Infectious waste
transporter
Visible emblem or
with the visible
words
“Biohazard”
Sharps or
Infectious waste

22. Office Wastes

23. Save Energy, Water & Money
Conservation
• Critical piece
of dentistry’s
green future
Mantra of Green
Dentistry
• Extends the
life of our
precious
resources
Dental offices
• Use a lot of
electricity -
compressors,
drills, lights,
operatory
lights &
computers

24. Most energy-
saving
modalities,
Don’t require
to purchase
anything
Stop wasting
the energy for
which you pay
but don’t use
Turn off all
items every
time the office
is closed
Make sure
your
electronic
equipment is
turned off
every night at
the power
strip
Reduces
“Phantom
Load" up to
10% of the
typical energy
bill

25. Operatory Lights
- Reduce energy consumption by
70 percent
- Eliminating the need for
expensive halogen bulbs
Overhead Lights
- More Life
- More lumen (brightness)
- Less consumption
- Saves money in the long run
Computer Screens
Average Consumption
CRT - Cathode ray tube – 76 w
LCD - Liquid crystal display – 20 w
LED – Light emitting diode – only 3w
Advertisement Boards
- Saves lots of electrical energy
as well as money
LED

26. LED vs CFL vs Incandescent Bulb

27. Water purification plants & waste water
treatment plants - Consumes lot of
energy, & creates much wastes
Steam based sterilization
Uses less water & No chemicals
SAVES MONEY
Use WATERLESS VACCUM SYSTEMS
which saves about 360 gallons of water
per day
STOP WATER LEAKAGES
(Saves 60 ltrs water every week)

28. Other Strategies - RETHINK
Reduce the
use of
disposables &
Switch to
REUSABLES
Cloth
patient
bibs
Reusable
cups
Cloth
head rest
covers
Reusable
metal
suction
tips
Cloth
operatory

29. Incorporates – HIGH TECH innovations
DIGITAL
• Imaging
• Patient Records
• Patient charting
scheduling & billing
• Patient communications
• CAD-CAM
• Website
EQUIPMENTS
• Oil Free Compressors
• Steam Sterilizers
• Diode lasers
• Go for LEDs
• In office Sharps disposal
1:1 correlation - High-tech & Eco-friendly dentistry

30. Wellness Based Dentistry
Move from a
disease-
based model
to a
wellness-
based
Change role as
a health
educator,
co-therapist &
coach
Prevention,
early detection
& less-invasive
Incorporate
aromatherapy
Hand sanitizer,
lotions & soaps
that incorporate
essential oils
(calming &
relaxing)
Prepare the
patient for a
healing
experience on
the dental chair

31. Wellness Based Dentistry
Move from a
disease-
based model
to a
wellness-
based
Hand or foot
massage to
relax patients
Homeopathic
modalities like
Arnica –
reduces
swelling
Live, green
plants in the
operatory,
increasing
oxygenation
Oral cancer
diagnostics
HEPA UV
germicidal -
Operatory air
purifiers

32. • Must start
in Dental
Schools
• It is our
duty now
• Save
Energy,
Water &
Money
• Adhere to
formulated
principles
Create a
mission
statement &
GREEN
TEAM
Re-think your
daily habits
Learning
about GREEN
DENTISTRY
Green
Dentistry is
no more a
choice that
we have
Conclusion
Whether dentistry is ready or not, the green movement is
catching on and it’s moving fast

34. ELEMENTS of ECO FRIENDLY DENTISTRY
Building & office
construction
Careful planning and construction of a green building in
accordance with benchmarks for constructing green
buildings
Utilizing green interior design finishes, and textiles, including
interior elements that are free of persistent bioaccumulative
toxins and VOCs and that are made from post-industrial or
post-consumer waste or come from sustainable resources.

35. Office
Operations
Paperless Clinics
Digital radiography
100% sustainable energy to power any
facility
Creating mission statement & adhering to
formulated principles
Formulating a green team with designated
responsibilities& goals

36. Patient Practices
Practice metal free dentistry (No Amalgam)
Use of non-toxic, green cleaning and sterilization
products and supplies
Use of dry heat or steam sterilization versus chemical
sterilization
Use of lead free patient X-ray aprons shielding
• BPA BisphenolA-free composite resins and oral
appliances

37. Technology
Digital Imaging
(x-rays)
Steam Sterilization
CAD/CAM Systems
(In office laboratory
restorations)
For Patients
Instant image availability;
improved image quality;
enhanced diagnostic
efficacy; minimal radiation
exposure
Time efficient and reliable;
eliminates toxic chemical
sterilization vapors in the
dental office environment
eliminates toxic chemical
sterilization vapors in the
dental office environment
For the
Environment
Eliminates toxic x-ray fixer
solutions and lead foils
Eliminates hazardous
waste; allows for re-usable
sterilization warps
Reduces greenhouse
gasses produced from
patient and staff travel for
multiple appointments, and
the shipping of impressions
and final restorations,
sometimes as far as
overseas

38. More High-Tech,
Eco-Friendly, Wellness-Based
Dental Technologies:
Oral Detoxification with Laser Hygiene Technologies
Salivary Diagnostics for Periodontal Disease
LED - Operatory Lighting
Digital Oral Cancer Screening
Digital ImpOral Detoxification with Laser Hygiene
ressions
Digital Patient Charting
On-site Biomedical Waste Disposal Systems

39. Sustainable
Location
Waste Reduction
Pollution
Prevention
Energy
Conservation
CATEGORIESOFECO-FRIENDLYDENTAL
PRACTICE

40. Water Conservation
Patient Care, Workplace
Policies & Community
Contribution
Leadership
Innovation