Mommy Goes Green

Last week, we talked about The Natural Dentist, oral care products easy on your gums and the environment.  Since then, I stumbled upon the Eco Dentistry Association (EDA), a group created to support dental professionals in making the transition to green practices and and to connect dental patients to dental professionals who share their commitment to a healthy lifestyle and a healthy planet.

I hadn’t thought much about greening my choice in dentists except for the day that my daughter might need sealants ( some contain BPA ) but the list below provided by the EDA made me rethink my decision.  I’m not a big fan of radiation or chemicals.

Questions to Ask Your Dentist:

• Are you a member of the EDA?
• Do you offer digital x-rays that have 75-90% less radiation?
• Are you a paperless office or do you use paper billing and paper patient charting? (A paperless dental office can save over 50,000 sheets of paper a year!)
• Do you use disposable or reusable cloth patient bibs?
• Do you use disposable paper cups, paper lab coats, or plastic chair barriers? Have you considered switching to reusable cups or mugs and washable cloth lab coats and chair barriers?
• How do you dispose of mercury-containing silver fillings? Do you have an amalgam separator installed to protect our water supply?
• Do you have a recycling program in your office?
• Do you use steam sterilization methods instead of chemical sterilization?  

Fortunately, I’m still a month away from my daughter’s first dental cleaning – in the meantime, I can talk to the dentist about the methods he uses and decide whether or not the office is a good fit for our family.

Find an Eco-Dentist in your area!