We’re all trying to leave as little of an environmental footprint as possible, opting to use more recyclable materials in everyday life, switching to electric or hybrid vehicles, swapping plastic water bottles for reusable ones, etc.

Have you ever stopped to think about the environmental footprint of businesses? Depending on the industry, some require printing hundreds of thousands of paper daily, vast energy consumption, and waste management, while others require gas to power parts of their business. 

Every business leaves behind some carbon footprint, and here at Rhoades Family Dentistry, we do all we can to protect the environment while providing our patients with the dental care they need. Keep reading for a closer look into dentistry’s environmental footprint and how Rhoades Family Dentistry attempts to leave as little a carbon footprint as possible!

Why Should Places of Business Offset Their Carbon Footprint?

Decades ago, individuals and businesses lived and went about business as usual without much concern about the carbon footprint they left behind. Why? Because decades ago we didn’t have the research and resources to understand fossil fuels’ effects on climate change.

Fossil fuels like gas and oil are responsible for most gas emissions. Think about how much of everyday life uses fossil fuels: heating our homes and businesses, commuting to and from work, cooking food with gas appliances, powering our homes or businesses with oil or gas, the deforestation required to produce paper and plastics, and so on. Businesses and commercial buildings leave one of the largest carbon footprints because they require employees to travel, power lights, heating systems, and electronics for employee use and comfort. They also use paper and other business materials to run their business.

Research has shown that generating power, manufacturing goods, deforestation, transportation that emits fossil fuels, food production, and powering buildings all contribute to climate change. Why does climate change matter and how does it affect anyone or anything? Climate change negatively impacts nature and humans, causing more severe storms, droughts, increased temperatures, air pollution that leads to health risks, and more.

Dentistry’s Environmental Footprint

Dentistry is not among the world’s most polluting industries. Industries like agriculture, fossil fuels, fashion, and food retail are some of the world’s most polluting industries. Dentistry doesn’t leave the largest carbon footprint, yet every business emits fossil fuels. Therefore, the environmental impact of dentistry is much less than that of other industries.

Dentistry’s greatest cause for emitting fossil fuels is employees commuting to and from work, patients traveling to and from the dental office for exams and treatments, and procurement. Dental staff can’t work remotely as they examine patients and perform treatments to maintain and achieve excellent oral health, but procurement is different.

We do need a lot of equipment in our dental offices, including instruments for obtaining X-rays, examination chairs, sterilization equipment for the office and supplies, dental utility equipment like water and suction for exams, oral handpieces for exams and surgeries, lights, and more. 

Plastic plays a massive role in climate change, emitting millions of metric tons of gasses to recycle. The healthcare industry can’t function without plastic. Still, we can all play a role in limiting its use and opting to get our supplies from manufacturers that recycle and use more sustainable dental materials.

Though dentistry doesn’t leave the largest environmental footprint, the industry does emit some fossil fuels. Rhoades Family Dentistry is committed to offsetting our carbon footprint by taking some measures to be more sustainable.

How Rhoades Family Dentistry is Offsetting Our Carbon Footprint

Our team at Rhoades Family Dentistry is passionate about doing everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint. Since our staff needs to be in the office for exams and dental treatments and our patients need to travel to our office, there isn’t much we can do about employees commuting to and from work and patient travel. However, we strive to do all we can with procurement.

From procuring dental equipment with recycled materials and recyclable packing to using LED lights and limiting the number of papers we print at the office, we’re doing what we can to protect our environment by using sustainable dental materials, implementing green dentistry, and carbon footprint reduction while still offering exceptional dental care.

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly dental practice in Kansas City, look no further than Rhoades Family Dentistry! We offer the following services and treatments with exceptional care for our patients:

Book an appointment today by scrolling up and clicking “BOOK AN APPOINTMENT” on the top left of your screen! Our hygienists and dentists go above and beyond to keep your family safe and comfortable during visits, easing anxiety and offering kind and gentle care. We look forward to serving your family and providing excellent dental care!