The environment has become an integral part of all aspects of our lives. The environment is directly linked to one’s health and wellness, mental state, and overall well-being. The dental industry is no exception.
As dentists are now looking for ways to make their practices more environmentally conscious, they are looking for specific types of technology that will allow them to focus on care rather than worrying about how their office’s sustainability affects the planet.
Introduction: Greening Your Dental Practice, The Eco-Friendly Way
Greening your dental practice is not an easy task. It involves choosing the right equipment, understanding the environmental impact of your equipment, and having a plan to reduce it.
The good news is that there are many green solutions available on the market which can make greening your practice easier. These eco-friendly products are designed to comply with regulatory requirements while still reducing your environmental footprint. They come in different shapes and sizes to suit any budget or preference, making it easy for you to find something that suits your needs.
Choosing eco-friendly products for your clinic helps you on all fronts, by providing more health benefits for patients, reducing the environmental impact on our planet, and on top of it all – saving money on energy bills!
What Can You Do To Green Up Your Dentist Practice?
When it comes to dentistry, there are a lot of things that can be done to make the practice more sustainable. Some of the best ways are to:
- Encourage patients to take better care of their teeth (since it will reduce the amount of care you will have to give them with expensive dental equipment).
- Switch from using disposable paper products, such as paper towels and tissues, to washable cloth or paper products.
- Stop using plastic water bottles and switch to reusable ones that are made from glass or BPA-free plastics.
These are seemingly small, but environmentally friendly ways to green up your dentist practice. Onward, to some of the technologies that can help with the same cause.
Top 3 Green Technologies That Every Dentist Should Get Their Hands On!
Green technology and energy efficiency is – as mentioned in the introduction – a huge trend in dental offices and clinics these days. One of the countries that seem to be at the forefront of greener dentist practice is Norway, perhaps thanks to their strong economy and healthcare system. This is why we’ve put together a list of the top 3 green technologies that every dentist should get their hands on, inspired by the Norwegian dental clinic Tannlegene i23, and tips they share on their website Tannlege i Jessheim:
1. LED lighting
With the help of LED bulbs, dentists can reduce their carbon footprint by over 50%. These lights are also better for your health because they emit less blue light than CFLs and LEDs.
2. Virtual Dental Assistants
Virtual dental assistants will give you personalized information about your teeth and oral hygiene habits – and it won’t be judgmental! They’ll also tell you where to go for treatments if you need them.
3. Green Cleaning
A green cleaning solution employs the principle that often, there are cheaper and greener ways of cleaning dental equipment, as with any other equipment. The way to begin is by browsing the internet for cleaning materials and substances that are friendly toward the environment – from production to use.
Conclusion on How To Make Dentist Practices More Environmentally Friendly
In order to start making your dentist practice greener, the first step is to assign a specific person to be the environmental specialist and make sure that they are well-versed in all the green topics. The next step is for this person to take care of everything from paper and ink cartridges, to cleaning supplies and refrigerators.
There are many simple measures that dentists can take to make their practices more environmentally friendly. The important thing is to just begin somewhere. The methods will get perfected as you go.