Dentistry and the environment

Dentistry has an impact on the environment and there are moves towards "eco-friendly dentistry". Eco-friendly dentistry uses a sustainable approach to encourage dentists to implement new strategies to try and reduce the energy being consumed and the large amount of waste being produced by the industry.
Dentistry
Dentistry is defined as the “evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body" . People who practice dentistry are known as dentists. They practice in according to the ethics of the profession and to the law
Medical waste
Landfill and incineration
The industrial world produces large amounts of waste each year and the medical industry plays a crucial role in producing and adding to the amount hauled off to landfills. The waste is dropped off at landfill sites and it begins its destructive path. The landfill begins to destroy the material, rather than conserve it . Raw and new materials are being exploited because of the increase in expelling of waste at landfills and incinerators. More than two-thirds of the material used in the United States is dumped into landfills each year, despite the encouragement of recycling it . Contamination of the groundwater and aquifers by leakage produced by the decaying matter and the off gassing of methane gas from the decaying organic waste are the leading causes of environmental harm from landfills. Hazardous waste that is deposited from hospitals and medical clinics can seep into the ground and infectious diseases can spread rapidly. Incinerators are commonly used to dispose of this type of hazardous waste. The by-products of incinerators such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide (green house gases) can cause harm to humans and the environment and further global warming .
Green house gases and climate change
Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased significantly since the 1960s . The leading cause of anthropogenic climate change is the emission of carbon dioxide, as it is the most abundant green house gas in the environment Rethinking the way that dentist offices are run is the initial step in trying to change the modern practice. Implementing simple changes like things you can add or change, and decrease energy and water consumption are the initial strategies to consider
. The clinic can use the neighbourhood recycling program to reduce the amount of recyclable items being disposed in landfills. To reduce the water consumption of the clinic they can use a dry dental vacuum pump that saves over 42 gallons of potable water per year instead of wet pumps <ref name="farahai"/>. One time use plastic syringes can be replaced by stainless steel syringes that can be sterilized and reused multiple times. There are many low cost, eco friendly and simple options that dentists can implement in their clinics:<ref name="adamse"/>
*use energy star washing machines and dryers
*use fluorescent lighting
*use low volatile paints
*use digital radiology instead of film based x-rays.
All of these options are easy to access and are economically and financially viable. Simple steps can be taken to reduce the environmental contamination produced by a dental practice.

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