Establishing an Eco-friendly Dental Practice: A Review.

Have dentists paused to think as to where the gloves, fixer, plastic waste, mercury waste, and X-ray films used in the clinic end up after disposal? Or considered how much water, electricity, and other resources our dental clinics use? Dentists need to take off their tinted glasses and consider the effects of their dental practice on the planet. Though individual dentists generate only small amounts of dental waste, the accumulated waste produced by the profession may have significant environmental impact. Thus the concept of “green dentistry” or “ecofriendly dentistry” has evolved. Eco-friendly dentistry is an environmentally friendly way of practicing dentistry by using techniques and equipment to reduce waste, conserve energy, decrease pollution, and reduce our carbon footprint. The incorporation of eco-friendly dentistry to the dental practice is not only effective from an environmental perspective but is cost-effective for the dentist too. If a dental practitioner is looking for a way to distinguish his clinic from the others, eco-friendly dentistry could be the answer. This article reviews the scientific literature on eco-friendly dentistry and suggests comprehensive steps to start an eco-friendly dental practice.