As the world struggles with drastic climatic changes, resource depletion, and pollution, the environmental footprint of various industries has come to light more and more. Dentistry, a field of maintaining oral health, is no exception. While they are visiting their family dentist in Springfield or taking a possible technical tool for the required treatment, many are unaware of how their dental treatments can have an impact on our ecology.
Materials used in the dental field that are mostly disposables during dental practices significantly contribute to the degradation of the environment. The below article talks about the environmental impact of dental materials and disposables.
Waste Generation
From single-use items like gloves, masks, and syringes to packaging materials for dental products, dental practices generate a considerable amount of waste.
Single-use items
The use of single-use products in dental practices is largely followed to maintain strict hygiene and avoid passing on bacteria and contamination. Items such as gloves, masks, suction tips, and plastic barriers are discarded after a single use, increasing waste. According to sources, an average of seven kilograms of single-use waste is being disposed of daily by dental practices. Material made of plastic takes time to dispose of and significantly affects the environment.
Packaging waste
Apart from single-use items, dental practices contribute to waste due to the non-recyclable packaging that they use for dental supplies like composites, bonding agents, and sterilization pouches. Their buildup leads to a burden that ends up in landfills and releases harmful chemicals.
Chemical Pollution
When some of the chemicals that are used in these practices are not disposed of properly, they pose harm to the environment.
Amalgam waste
From an environmental perspective, amalgam waste is one of the most concerning. It is composed of mercury, silver, tin, and copper, and it is widely used for dental fillings. Serious environmental harm is seen due to the presence of neurotoxin in mercury, which is a key component of amalgam. If amalgam waste is not filtered and managed properly, it can enter the wastewater system, contaminating water and affecting aquatic life.
Disinfects and cleaners
Dental practices use lots of cleaners and disinfectants to maintain a sterile environment. These contain some harmful substances like chlorine, glutaraldehyde, and phenols, which can pose a serious threat.
Energy Consumption In Dental Practices
Equipment and technology
Advanced technology, like digital imaging systems, autoclaves for sterilization, and dental lasers, is used in modern dental clinics. These devices require a notable amount of energy to operate and contribute to carbon emissions.
HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, And Air- Conditioning
For a comfortable and sterile environment in dental clinics, extensive use of HVAC systems is involved. While helping the staff and patients to be comfortable by regulating humidity and temperature, these systems contribute to high energy consumption levels, particularly in areas with extreme temperatures. HVAC uses energy coming from fossil fuels, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
What Can Be A Sustainable Alternative?
Given the impact of dental materials and disposables, there is a need for sustainable alternatives.
Use of Biodegradable and Recyclable materials
Encouraging the use of biodegradable and recyclable materials that are developed by manufacturers, like gloves, masks, and other single-use items that are made from materials that decompose more quickly than normal plastics.
Mercury-free filling and amalgam separators
Amalgam separators can be installed by dental practices that capture the amalgam particles before they reach water bodies to solve the issue of mercury pollution and avoid contaminating water bodies. Also, mercury-free fillings like resins and glass ionomers cement, which are less harmful to the environment, are used.
Energy-efficient equipments and greenhouse building practices
Reducing energy consumption using energy-efficient equipment will help significantly, such as using equipment with energy-saving modes and adding solar panels to initiate renewable energy sources while reducing the carbon footprints of dental practices. By minimizing the reliance on artificial lighting and HVAC, energy-efficient lighting, proper insulation, natural lighting, and ventilation can be used to further enhance greenhouse building practices.
