01 March 2011 When Your Dentist Turns Green By Karin Rives Staff Writer
Washington — Dental offices in the United States flush an estimated 100 million liters of clean drinking water down the drain every day.They also generate some 10,000 kilos of mercury-laden amalgam waste particles — most of which are washed down the sink — and huge amounts of disposable plastics destined for landfills.Well, you guessed it: A movement is building to "green” America’s 125,000-plus dental offices.Since Ina and Fred Pockrass founded the Eco-Dentistry Association (EDA) in 2008, dental offices in 45 states and 13 other countries have joined the organization. All took a pledge to reduce their impact on the environment — by installing a machine that separates the amalgam tooth filling particles from the waste water stream, for example, and using digital X-rays that don’t require toxic chemicals.Other initiatives under the pledge include using washable rather than disposable lab coats, installing energy efficient lamps, and using suppliers that offer only environmentally sound products and services.
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