News & Press

Northern California Pediatric Dental Practice Awarded First LEED Certification in Nation

Wed, 11 May 2011 19:37:41 GMT

GREENBRAE, Calif.,May 11, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Gila C. Dorostkar, DDS, announced today that the newly dedicated 2500 square-foot pediatric dental facility located at 1300 South Eliseo Drive inGreenbrae, California, is the first privately funded pediatric dental office in the U.S. to be awarded LEED® certification. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for commercial interiors was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Gila C. Dorostkar, DDS, is also a member of the Eco-Dentistry Association (EDA) and is scheduled to become a Charter-Certified GreenDOC™ dental practice.

According to project managerJohn G. Millar, "Our objective was to create a welcoming, healthy atmosphere that would enhance the dental experience for our patients and their parents. We have always employed sustainable practices wherever possible, so when we decided to construct a new office, we made a conscious decision to expand upon our philosophy and create an environmentally friendly facility. LEED certification was one component of that determination, and was critical in guiding us through the construction process. We also took steps to improve the practice of dentistry by installing state-of-the art equipment, moving to a digital, paperless, environment, and designing the office to support sustainable practices. We are honored to be the first private pediatric dental practice in the country to be awarded LEED certification."

LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance, environmentally friendly buildings. Gila C. Dorostkar, DDS, is the first pediatric dental practice outside a university or publicly funded environment to achieve this award. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

LEED certification was created to establish measurable goals for the design and remodel of buildings that protect and save precious resources, improve the wellbeing of occupants, and that make good economic sense. Based on a multi-faceted point system, the certification process evaluates site selection, water and energy use, building materials, indoor environmental quality and a variety of other metrics that help minimize environmental impact. A sample of the sustainable practices that were incorporated into the Gila C. Dorostkar pediatric dentistry project include: design for water use reduction; design for maximum daylighting, energy optimization and use of green power; use of low-emission materials and adhesives; implementation of an extensive recycling program; use of automated lighting and HVAC controls, and site selection near mass transit systems and bike paths.

Dr. Gila C. Dorostkar is a Board Certified Pediatric Specialist and Fellow of the American College of Dentists who began practicing inMarin Countyin 1997. She is an advocate for children's health and has served in leadership roles in the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry (CSPD) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Dr. Dorostkar also donates her expertise by treating children who might otherwise not have access to a Pediatric Specialist and supports numerous local school foundations and children's programs. Additional information may be located a www.drdorostkar.comor by calling (858) 832-8297.

LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.www.usgbc.org

GreenDOC is a registered trademark of the Eco-Dentistry Association.www.ecodentistry.org

SOURCE Gila C. Dorostkar, DDS

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Tom's Of Maine Organic Toothpaste Review by Dr. Todd Welch

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:49:27 GMT

Posted by Todd Welch on March 7, 2011

As a periodontist, I am asked on a daily basis what toothpaste, floss and mouth rinse I recommend. My patients are typically surprised when I recommend Tom's of Maine organic oral health products.

Tom's of Maine was founded in 1970 by Tom Chappell and his wife, Kate, on their farm near Kennebunk, Maine. Tom, a 1966 graduate of Trinity College in Connecticut, and Kate, an artist and poet, had moved to Maine from Philadelphia in 1968 after Tom quit his job as a benefits counselor at Aetna. Both were intent on living closer to the land and raising their children in a more natural environment. Tom's of Maine was one of the first green companies on the scene to develop commercial organic toothpaste. Today they have a variety of organic mouth care products on the market.

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When Your Dentist Turns Green

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 22:44:58 GMT

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.

Read more: http://www.america.gov/st/energy-english/2011/March/20110225163055nirak0.7719385.html?CP.rss=true#ixzz1DVLG9Zvs