April 2008
Career | Web Exclusive

Rethinking waste

Trashing false concepts about being green. by Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA

Today, everyone is talking about going “green.” With so many necessary disposable products in the operatory, having a truly eco-friendly office can seem like an impractical fantasy. There are, however, many ways to be green without compromising patient safety. Here are a few tips on habits you can change in your treatment room that will make a big difference—no new technology, no new purchases, just a new way of preparing the space.

*    Take a look around your treatment room. How many plastic barriers are used? Think about items or surfaces that could be disinfected instead of barrier protected. In circumstances where barriers must be used, consider using less. For example, on the overhead light handles, consider placing a plastic barrier on only one handle instead of both handles.

*    If you have a computer in the treatment room, consider purchasing a waterproof keyboard and mouse. There are companies that manufacture these products fully sealed, even able to withstand surface disinfectants.

*    Alcohol hand sanitizers are becoming more popular and may be used in place of soap and water when hands are not visibly soiled or contaminated. This would reduce the number of paper towels used each day. An added benefit is that most alcohol hand sanitizers contain products like emollients that help improve the moisture content of the health care workers hands.

*    When you prepare your treatment your room, think about setting up everything you will need so you can reduce the number of times you have to remove and discard gloves to get a needed item.

*    Another area that could go greener is the sterilization room. By switching to a steam sterilizer you could eliminate the hazardous chemicals used in a chemical vapor sterilizer.

You may not be able to initiate change all at once in your dental office. Start with one step at a time. Even little changes can snowball in to big benefits. Be a leader and start a campaign for a greener work environment. You might be surprised how infectious going green can be.

If you would like a checklist of things you can do to help your dental office be a little greener, send an email to leslie@lesliecanham.com

Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA, is a dental speaker and consultant specializing in Infection Control and OSHA compliance. She has more than 37 years of experience in dentistry. Leslie is the founder of Leslie Canham Seminars providing in-office training, mock-inspections, consulting and online seminars and webinars to help the dental team navigate the sea of state and federal regulations. Leslie’s fast paced and entertaining seminars have earned her the reputation as an outstanding speaker in dentistry. Leslie is recognized as a continuing education provider by Academy of General Dentistry, the California Dental Board, and is authorized by the Department of Labor as an OSHA Outreach Trainer in General Industry Standards. Visit www.LeslieCanham.com.