Smile South Florida Practices Sustainable Dentistry – Digital X-Ray & Porcelain Crowns & Veneers

MIAMI, BOCA RATON and TAMARAC, Fla, April 2007 – Dental procedures generate a fair amount of hazardous wastes. Yet, because few states have regulations regarding proper disposal, safe procedures are infrequently implemented. Smile South Florida has long practiced safe disposal, as well as other sustainable dental methods.

“Our experience has proven it’s possible to combine both quality care and sustainable practices,” said Dr. Charles Nottingham, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. “We’ve found the established Best Management Practices for dental offices are both practical and easily implemented.”

Earth Day 2007 provides an opportunity to review these sustainable practices.

MERCURY

Smile South Florida doesn’t use composite, mercury-free fillings. When flushed down the drain, this toxic amalgam contaminates bodies of water and/or sludge from wastewater plants that are unable to extract mercury. Concerns also have been raised about health issues related to mercury fillings.

Smile South Florida instead offers a variety of porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers. Not only are they safer, porcelain better matches a patient’s surrounding teeth for a more aesthetic appearance.

DIGITAL X-RAY DIAGNOSIS

Digital diagnoses methods greatly reduce a patient’s exposure to radiation while offering several environmental benefits. Because the images are displayed on a computer screen, no film, paper or toxic metals are required to produce the images.

Smile South Florida uses the innovative TRIX ImageRayi system, a standard in the sensor industry for safety, speed and cleanliness. Its unique CsI (Cesium Iodine) process reduces a patient’s exposure to radiation up to 50 percent.

We also use the DENTRIX ImageCAM for paper and film-less images.

LOW-IMPACT OFFICE

Earth Day organizers originally focused on the big picture: Auto emissions, corporate polluters, and the like. As the years passed, sustainable practices grew to encompass almost every aspect of our lives.

Smile South Florida incorporates enviro-intelligence throughout our practice. We minimize energy use, reduce and recycle all wastes; and, of course, reduce, re-use and recycle our paper flow.

Best Management Practices have permeated nearly all facets of American life since the first Earth Day in 1970. Smile South Florida is proud to be at the forefront of implementing sustainable dental systems.

With practices in Boca Raton and Tamarac, Fla., Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry is committed to providing excellent dental care. The dentists specialize in cosmetic dentistry and periodontics, with a focus in extreme dental makeovers, instant orthodontics, porcelain veneers and crowns, Lumineers, dental implants, Invisalign and teeth whitening.

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