Proposal for Improving Green Initiatives at The Tooth Gallery Dental Office in Ottawa

To: Dr. Erika Paterson, Professor of ENGL301 Technical Writing

From: Karissa Garneau, Student of ENGL301 Technical Writing

Date: October 16, 2021

Subject: Proposal for Improving Green Initiatives at The Tooth Gallery Dental Office in Ottawa.

This proposal is intended to be read by the owner and lead dentist of The Tooth Gallery with the goal of increasing awareness of the need to improve green initiatives within the dental office. They have the authority to approve the necessary changes to services used and products ordered. Following the successful implementation of these changes, it is anticipated that other offices will be motivated to make conscious choices to be more environmentally friendly with the products and services they use.

Introduction

Dental offices are significant contributors to environmental waste. Whereas some efforts for repurposing can be made, a large portion of dental materials available on the market are not designed to be reused or recycled. Waste containing metals and hazardous substances are typically properly disposed of due to standards and guidelines set by the ministry of health. Yet single-use plastics, disposable items, and plastic wraps and barriers have only increased in popularity following the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Statement of Problem

Waste management is a growing ecologic concern as landfills overflow and begin to run out of space. Dental office waste can cause the introduction of toxic chemicals into our water systems and landfills. Client-specific dental services are performed which typically involve the manipulation of oral tissues, often producing biological fluids such as blood and saliva which are removed by use of dental materials. Cotton gauze, plastic barriers, and single-use plastics are the materials that account for the largest amount of dental waste. The chemicals commonly used to flush out dental water lines and disinfect treatment areas can have varying effects on the environment.

Proposed Solutions

An important first step to improving green initiatives in a dental office is to create an individualized, environmental action plan. The office will have the best success in maintaining better environmental choices by having all members of the team following the same protocols. The services the company uses and the products commonly ordered need to be analyzed and compared with other options available on the market. Some products such as suction tubes and client protective wear have sterilizable or washable alternatives. By making thoughtful choices to order more sustainable products and consider how each product can be best utilized, the Tooth Gallery can reduce its ecological footprint.

Scope

To assess the feasibility of the proposed changes, the following survey questions will be distributed to dental offices and account for the bulk of data assessed.

• What are you currently doing to reduce environmental waste in the dental office?
• What kind of training has staff received in waste management?
• What kind of waste management/cleaning services are being used in the dental office?
• How does the dental office clean non-treatment areas: floors, waiting room, bathrooms, staff areas? Where do cleaning products get disposed of after use?
• How many garbage bags on average are removed from your dental office in a typical week?
• How many staff currently work in the dental office?
• How does the dental office dispose of hazardous waste and silver/mercury/lead?
• How does the dental office dispose of unsoiled, used treatment gloves and masks?
• How well managed are green initiatives in the dental office?
• What could be done to improve green initiatives in the dental office?

Methods

Primary sources of data will be collected by way of surveys distributed to staff members of the dental office. Open-ended questions are asked to allow subjects to provide further clarification to the questions in their own words. Secondary sources of data include background knowledge and reference to publications regarding environmental waste in dental offices.

My Qualifications

As a registered dental hygienist and self-proclaimed environmentalist, I believe I am more than qualified to improve green initiatives within a dental office. I have worked in many dental offices and seen an array of varied environmental preferences among staff and more importantly, among employers. While there are offices that make efforts to reduce environmental waste, the sheer number of dental offices in rural cities alone is a cause for concern.

Conclusion

It is evident that dental offices produce a large ecological footprint. There are more sustainable choices that can be made to reduce environmental waste and lower carbon emissions. By implementing a successful environmental action plan in this dental office, other dental professionals may be encouraged to make greener choices in their own offices.