| Primarily to due to lack of awareness and a | | | | inside the practice are compliant with international |
| callous attitude, various human activities over | | | | energy efficiency standards. |
| generations have already resulted in irreversible | | | | Recommended Management of Dental Clinic |
| changes in our planets ecological system. | | | | Waste Disposal: |
| However, over the last few years, public | | | | 1. Paper and other office waste - Only print what |
| awareness and professional accountability on | | | | is essential and recycle as much of the printed |
| environmental issues has been increasing and the | | | | materials as possible |
| modern day Dental practioner too has an | | | | 2. Gloves, Face Masks, Caps, Bibs – Separate |
| important role to play. | | | | from general waste and discard after each use in |
| Dentists owe it to their patients, employees, and | | | | a bio-medical waste bin as infectious waste |
| their planet to reduce their carbon footprint. | | | | 3. Blood – Discharge to sewer |
| Simple steps may be taken to turn your practice | | | | 4. Bloody materials from cotton dressings, human |
| green by making it more environmentally friendly: | | | | parts, swabs/gauze, used impression material |
| 1. Correct disposal of bio-medical waste: Virtually | | | | – Dispose as infectious waste |
| all materials and medications used in the dental | | | | 5. Mercury – Treat as hazardous waste and |
| practice are potentially hazardous and require | | | | dispose in carefully marked bio-medical waste |
| special handling, treatment & disposal. | | | | 6. Fixer & Developer from X-Ray film |
| 2. Reduce or eliminate the use of toxic | | | | processing – Count as hazardous waste and |
| substances: | | | | discharge remainder of waste to sewer |
| - Mercury bearing silver amalgams | | | | 7. Lead foils from X-Ray films – Send to |
| - Instead of traditional X-Rays, the practice uses | | | | local metal re-claimer for recycling |
| digital x-rays that emit close to 90% lower | | | | 8. Needles/syringes/sharps – Store in puncture |
| radiation | | | | resistant containers and dispose in specially |
| - In place of X-Ray films, the practice uses | | | | marked bio-medical waste bins |
| Radiovisiography (RVG) equipment that requires | | | | A little care at the dental practice can go a long |
| no chemicals for processing of x-ray films | | | | way in protecting the environment for future |
| - The entire water supply to the clinic needs to | | | | generations and also help fight the spread of |
| be filtered through a water softener so as to | | | | highly infectious diseases such as Hepatitis and |
| eliminate calcium and other deposits leading to an | | | | AIDS. |
| increased longevity of instruments and a reduction | | | | We are one of the first clinics in East Delhi, Delhi |
| in waste | | | | or even India to practice green dentistry. Please |
| - Lighting used in the entire clinic needs to be | | | | feel free to contact us, as we encourage |
| changed to more energy efficient CFL lights, as | | | | productive discussion with other Dentists, as well |
| well as ensure that all equipment including the air | | | | as our patients on this very relevant and |
| filtration system as well as air-conditioning units | | | | important topic. |