Wisconsin dentists take environmental stewardship seriously

Contact: Carol S. Weber, APR, Director of Public Relations, 414-755-4108, cweber@wda.org

WEST ALLIS, WIS., April 18, 2011 – Dentists’ primary concern – and responsibility – is the health of their patients.

Earth Day is this Friday, but dentists across Wisconsin work hard every day to ensure a healthy, safe environment inside and outside the dental office.

“We encourage our member dentists to use and dispose of all supplies and products in an environmentally-friendly fashion,” says Wisconsin Dental Association President Dr. Gene Shoemaker, a general dentist in Waukesha.

For example, dental amalgam or “silver” fillings combine elemental mercury and other metals like silver, copper and tin to form a very safe, stable alloy inside the mouth. Recycling amalgam waste captures this alloy and prevents its release into wastewater systems where it could interact with environmental factors to create methyl mercury that contaminates the fish we consume.

“Scientific evidence shows dental sources to be a very small – less than 1 percent – contributor of the mercury released into the environment,” Shoemaker says.

The WDA recently endorsed Sharps Compliance, a medical waste disposal company that provides member dentists with a green alternative to disposal rather than adding to landfills. In addition, state regulations require dental offices to have operating and safety procedures for X-rays and to conduct film processor quality control testing to protect dental patients and staff.

Since 1999, the WDA has worked with the state’s Department of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin – Extension and local sewerage districts to help dentists employ Best Management Practices for dental waste recycling and disposal.

“Dentistry’s common-sense approach leads dentists and their dental teams to take simple, effective steps to protect our state’s natural resources,” Shoemaker notes.

The Wisconsin Dental Association was established in 1870 and represents 88 percent of all licensed dentists in Wisconsin. WDA members are committed to promoting professional excellence and quality oral health care. It is one of 53 constituent (state-territorial) dental societies of the American Dental Association – the largest and oldest national dental association in the world. For more information, call 414-276-4520, visit WDA.org or find us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube.

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Earth Day is April 22