It’s Easy Being Green

By Cynthia Brattesani, DDS

Better for Your Practice, Your Patients, and the Earth

With my practice located in environmentally conscious San Francisco, "going green" has become a way of life. Digital radiography is a big part of my "green-office" lifestyle-improving our dental health, our budget and, ultimately, our environment. The diagnostic attributes of digital X-ray were already apparent-it's easy to use, fast, and promotes co-diagnosis and co-discovery. In addition, switching to digital radiography helps us to become better environmental stewards.

Reduced radiation -

Digital X-ray utilizes up to 90 percent less radiation that traditional film X-ray-that means less radiation exposure for my patients, for my team, and in our office environment.

Less hazardous waste -

Developing traditional X-rays means exposing my staff to very toxic chemicals that are considered hazardous waste. Some examples fixer and traditional X-ray film are considered hazardous waste because of their silver content. X-ray cleaner can contain chromium. Unused X-ray developer contains hydroquinone. Wrappers around traditional X-ray film contain lead that must be recycled. Many states are implementing stringent disposal laws for these chemicals. Under California law, X-ray fixer, developer, cleaner, lead foils, and shields cannot be poured down the drain or disposed of as garbage. They must be stored in appropriate containers away from the public and inspected once a week for leakage and deterioration and must be disposed of within 90 days of the date of accumulation, or for smaller users, after it reaches a 27-gallon limit. Needless to say, we don't need any of these anymore, now that we're digital. Also, we must put removed amalgam fillings in a separate receptacle to catch the mercury so it doesn't pollute San Francisco Bay. When the city and county inspectors came to check our office for this and saw our digital radiography system, they loved it because they didn't have to deal with all of the related chemical storage and hauling issues.

Healthier for the team -

More importantly, now, my team members don't have to breathe the fixer or developer fumes as they process the X-rays or clean the processor with caustic chemicals while wearing protective glasses, gloves, and masks.

Healthier for the budget -

In my office, before we initiated digital X-ray, we'd store used chemicals until the hazardous waste hauler came to remove them. That was an extra expense.

As a dentist, I'm glad to invest in equipment that improves my patient care and business, and that will also have an impact on our future quality of life.

Some dental offices treat spent fixer with an onsite silver recovery unit that requires a strict maintenance schedule. We'd rather spend more time with the patients.

Less "busy work"-

Toxic chemicals must be specifically labeled as hazardous waste. Employees must receive training on hazardous material handling, storage, disposal, spill cleanup- and take an annual refresher course. Dental offices must maintain records of all hazardous wastes generated on site. Documentation has to be maintained for three years.

And more -

We always inform our patients of our efforts to promote a cleaner, greener world. It's good marketing. We always use the term "digital" X-ray. "Digital" connotes "safer." We discuss how we have gotten rid of our processing and cleaning chemicals and darkroom, so we can use the space more efficiently for them. Investing in a digital radiography system is such an easy way to streamline office procedures and be friendly to the environment at the same time. Patients love that we care about them and care about the environment-it's a great message. As a dentist, I'm glad to invest in equipment that improves my patient care and business, and that will also have an impact on our future quality of life.

Dr. Cynthia Brattesani owns a private practice in San Francisco where she implemented digital X-ray more than six years ago. She was awarded the prestigious ADA Golden Apple New Dentist Leadership Award in 1996. An enthusiastic member of organized dentistry, she has held positions at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Brattesani is a graduate of University of California at San Francisco, School of Dentistry. You may reach her at info@drcynthiab.com