greendentistry
Does Your Dentist Use One?
by Carey O’Reilly, DDS
G
oing green is about a paradigm shift that involves both habitual behaviors
and small, day-to-day choices. As Mother Theresa said, “We can- not do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” Every item that we choose to dis- pose of or conserve has a cumula-
tive, global impact on the environment that becomes more evident over time. The need for a greener perspective when making these
choices is also true in business and healthcare. As a practicing dentist, I am often surprised by the amount of waste that dental treatments can generate. Of particular concern is the scrap metal produced by procedures such as amalgam replacement or removal. It has been estimated that up to 14 percent of the metal waste in the oceans is from dental amalgam. Its use has been banned entirely in Norway and Sweden.
sources. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to treat re- fuse liquids containing conventional pollutants such as human and food waste. The treatment process does not completely remove heavy metals, including mercury, so they remain in treated wastewater that is discharged into the water system.
regarding amalgam All dental of- to be compliant by December 2010.
Additionally,
last year the Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Total Maximum Daily Load of mercury allowable for the bay, as well as regula- tions ensuring that bio-solids (treated waste matter) can be regulations require the main treatment plant to meet con- centration limits for heavy metals, including mercury. With the availability of durable, tooth-colored composite material, amalgam usage is declining. However, the number of amal-
- tion devices that remove mercury and other metals found in amalgam waste before it enters the water supply. The six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Oregon and most exception.
In the 1990s, studies of the San Francisco Bay revealed a dozen toxic pollutants, including high levels of mercury San Francisco Bay Area. Recent studies cited by the City of San Jose’s Environmentals Services department show that 61 percent of the mercury entering the main treatment facility there is from dental practices. In the summer of 2009, infor- mation was sent to dentists concerning the newest statutes
- tion, and the California Dental Board follows this guideline. Environmentalists hope that Governor Schwarzenegger’s “green legacy” will include more active legislation to protect California’s natural resources from waste metals, including those from dentistry.
As “going green” continues to develop as a grassroots
movement, a growing awareness of the effects of what we put into our bodies, whether through diet or dental materials, is creating momentum for the change to sustainability. One is: “Do you have an amalgam separator?” Voluntary use of greener way of life.
By asking questions and looking for solutions to keep
every day to preserve our beautiful planet.
For more information about green dentistry and holistic, bio-friendly dental care, contact Dr. Carey O’Rielly at A-ZHolisticDentistry.com or call 760-632-1304.
See ad, page 13
natural awakenings
April 2010
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