Going Green!
The team at Dr. Stefanie's office places a high priority on stewardship of the resources with which we have been given. To that end, we strive to operate at dental office that reduces wvaste, provides our patients with the safest materials, and recycles materials we do use. Here are some of our efforts at helping our earth:
Mercury-Free Office
We are a mercury-free office which means we do not place amalgam fillings. Often referred to as "silver fillings", amalgam dental restorations consist of mercury, silver, tin, copper, and zinc. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal, and even small amounts can damage cells. Dr. Stefanie will safely remove these fillings when needed, and we use a highly specialized pump/evacuation filtration system which ensures the safe disposal of this hazardous material so it will not enter our water supply. Call Dr. Stefanie at 310-247-9325 to discuss alternatives to silver fillings, such as white composites or porcelain restorations.
BPA-Free Fillings and Sealants
There have been some recent concerns in the media regarding the safety of BPA-containing dental materials. Although the tests show different conclusions, Dr. Stefanie has opted to provide BPA-free alternatives to those who would like this option.
Digital X-Rays
Our digital x-ray system eliminates the need for film processing which saves the earth from harmful processing chemicals, lead & film shields, and and also exposes patients to 75-90% less radiation than a standard x-ray system. Over time this can save upwards of 200 liters of toxic developing fluid from standard x-rays re-intering the water stream!
Computerized Office
An all-computerized office means no patient paper charts. We strongly encourage paperless billing & correspondence with our patients, relying on email, text, internet, and phone communication. We estimate that we can save up to 50,000 sheets of paper a year due to our computerization!
Steam Sterilization
Our two instrument sterilizers utilize steam sterilization which eliminates harmful chemicals from needing to be disposed.
Low-Energy Appliances and LED Lights
Metal Dental Instrument Cassettes
We use dental cassettes to hold the instruments during sterilization. This prevents waste of up to 40 disposable sterilization bags per day. The cassette system also ensures that instruments stay sterilized until use on our patients.