Green Dentistry

[Nachatta]

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For the DS students/dentists/pre-dents (potentially) that lurk this forum-- is green dentistry actually a thing in the field? A big fraction of my extracurriculars have been focusing on sustainability, and it's something I'd like to integrate into what I do in the future since I personally think it's a major issue.

I've looked around and no schools seem to show any interest in sustainability, so I'm on the fence on whether I should mention this goal in my interview/PS or focus on other more prominent issues within dentistry that I'm interested in. If I do that, I'll probably just pursue this on the side in the future. Any thoughts?

 

[Faefly]

I mean do you have ideas on how to make dentistry green or your practice in the future green?
If not, then what's the point?
If yes and you do have solutions and tangible ideas, then that would be an interesting topic to talk about and it will set you apart from others.

 

[Pearl E. White]

I have seen a dental office in my hometown and they claim to have a focus on sustainability. They offer things like cloth bibs. I think it is interesting too!

 

[deleted480308]

How would you be “green”?

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

This would definitely be an uphill battle, one that I’d be interested in though. How would you deal with sterility? What about longetivity differences in the materials you use?

 

[Pearl E. White]

This would definitely be an uphill battle, one that I’d be interested in though. How would you deal with sterility? What about longetivity differences in the materials you use?

I heard some places have reusable sterilization pouches. I wonder how that works and what the cost is compared to disposable?

 

[Nachatta]

How would you be “green”?

I was mainly thinking of opting more for post-consumer recycled products when it comes to materials, using reusable tips/potential instruments that can be sterilized instead of plastic one-use products that are thrown away. I think I read somewhere else that there are biodegradable disinfectants, although I may be wrong about all of the above since I'm not even a DS yet. A big fraction of the stuff is more general, like water aerators for conservation/energy efficient lights which aren't exactly interlinked with dentistry, which is why I'm skeptical.

This would definitely be an uphill battle, one that I’d be interested in though. How would you deal with sterility? What about longetivity differences in the materials you use?

Yeah, I definitely agree that it'll probably be difficult/an uphill battle, but I think it's one that it's worth making. I think I've read that there are resuable pouches being sold like Pearl mentioned, as well as stainless steel alternatives to one-use plastics. I haven't done super extensive research for nitty gritty details just yet as I probably won't until the late stages of planning a practice, but those are just some general thoughts I had. Of course, this is providing that it complies with any regulations regarding safety/sterilization.

 

[ysrebob]

Honestly the very few “green” offices I personally know of are doing it mostly as a marketing schtick, not out of altruistic desire to save the earth. They have only minor operational differences vs standard offices, and most of those differences are confined to things that would be obvious to the patient, like dispensing toothbrushes w handles made from recycled yogurt containers. It worked well from a marketing standpoint for one startup office I know of in a competitive university town. Not sure how well it would play in the heartland. And I seriously doubt they are really significantly greener than the typical office in terms of actual effect.

If you actually want to have a smaller environmental footprint:
1. equip the office with a dry vacuum system for the suction, not the traditional wet vac (huge water savings);
2. install the best central amagam trap system you can find;
3. ensure the building is reasonably well-insulated to reduce heat/cooling load.

None of the above will make a useful marketing line. Any other changes you make (eg recycled toothbrush handles) will yield negligible environmental benefit and are mostly window dressing to attract a certain demographic of patients, IMO.