Eco-Friendly Practices that Provide High Quality Dental Care for Patients while Reducing Practice Costs

Opting for eco-friendly practices in your dental office not only contributes to a healthier planet, but it also benefits your patients through improved health and well-being. This is because sustainable approaches, while prioritizing the planet, also allow you to focus on delivering quality dental services to your patients. It’s about making conscious decisions about dental materials, waste management, and energy consumption. 

Let’s dive into 5 ways you can make your dental practice more green to benefit the environment and your patients. 

1 | Go Digital

Going paperless and switching to digital solutions cuts down on the amount of consumables we use. So instead of sending patients a postcard reminder that it’s time for an annual cleaning, send them an email or a text instead. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but digital forms of communication keep your patients more engaged and more likely to schedule that appointment! 

2 | Implement Smarter Recycling Practices

Recycling in dental practices often gets overlooked, but there are some simple things you can do to help cut back on waste significantly, including:

• Placing designated recycling bins in key areas of your office.
• Limiting unnecessary printing.
• Ordering supplies in bulk to cut down on shipping and packaging waste.
• Keeping an up-to-date inventory of what you have so you don’t over order and waste supplies that have an expiration date. 

3 | Conserve Water and Energy

Dental offices can consume a lot of water and energy in a single day. Here are a few things you can do to help cut back on these utilities while also cutting back on your energy and water bill:

• Outfit your overhead lights with LEDs. They are more environmentally friendly than CFLs, use less energy than incandescents, and don’t need specialized recycling!
• Shut down your computers at the end of the day. Idle computers still use power and shutting down devices at the end of the day can cut energy costs by up to 70 percent!
• Switch out the toilets in your office with low flow toilets. While you might think that sinks and constant syringing are the biggest water wasters, nearly 20 percent of your annual water consumption is actually flushed down the drain. 

4 | Use Non-Toxic Materials 

There are many eco-friendly options out there that can help reduce exposure to hazardous materials. Switching to non-toxic options, like biocompatible fillings and restorative products, are not only safer for the environment, but for your staff and patients too! Also switch to eco-friendly disinfectants to further reduce chemical exposure for staff and patients. By opting for these materials, it can give you the peace of mind that your treatment choices align with your practice values! 

5 | Choose Green Products Like EcoLens! 

Opting for greener products, from the protective lenses you use to the toothbrush you send home with patients, can make an impact. Here are a few ideas for greener products:

• Send patients home with bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic.
• Use biodegradable floss picks instead of traditional floss or plastic flossers.
• You can’t cut printing out 100 percent, so opt for paper made from partially recycled materials.
• Have battery-powered devices? Switch to rechargeable batteries or devices with a charging dock.
• Avoid aerosol cleaning sprays and instead opt for pump bottles with natural cleaning solutions. 
• Use Rollens EcoLens! 

EcoLens is a high-quality option for protecting dental patients’ eyes. It offers the same level of protection as our Platinum Gray lenses, but are made with 46% plant-based materials and renewable biodegradable ingredients. This sustainable option offers your patients sanitary, safe eye protection during their dental exams. 

Final Thoughts

Going green isn’t just about saving the planet. It’s also about cutting back on wasteful spending by reducing energy and water consumption, as well as providing a less toxic environment for your patients while delivering them high-quality dental care!