At Advanced Dental Arts NW, we have always shared a deep concern and commitment for our environment. In fact, Dr. Teasdale was a featured speaker for his high school district during the very first Earth Day way back in 1970, and the office has carried on this philosophy of using our resources wisely. That is why we love the Internet, which allows us to communicate rapidly without paper or transportation. That is why our office was designed to maximize natural light, and why we use energy efficient lights for our background lighting, and low energy monitors throughout the office. And why we were the very first office in Portland to filter the heavy metals from our suction wastewater, years and years before it was mandated by the State of Oregon. And why, weather permitting, you will frequently find windows and doors open, so that fresh air can fill our office naturally, like it should.
And environmental awareness also made us convert exclusively to recycled paper for all our office printing. And it is why, whenever we have a mailing, we preferentially send it via email. And why we can forward information, photos, and referrals, within seconds, so there are never delays from our office. We also converted years ago to a fully paperless office, so all your charts, all our files, and all our business transactions are completely electronic, and your complete privacy is assured. And 100% of our x-rays are completely digital, so not only do we get a far superior image with far less radiation, but we can alter densities and contrast, so that each image provides far clearer and greater information than before. Do you realize that our digital radiographs now expose the sensors with less than one percent as much radiation as film required when we first set up our office (which in turn was less than 10% of what it was in the 1950′s!).
It was also a big part of our decision a decade ago to invest in Computer Designed and Manufactured (CAD/CAM) single visit CEREC Porcelain Restorations. Not only does it enable us to save time and visits for our patients, but it requires far less energy per restoration than having those restorations made in a commercial dental lab. And it completely cut out the need for impressions for most crowns and fillings, and this represented a tremendous benefit for the earth, as those impression materials will not break down for hundreds of generations.
But we still have had to take those impressions for a variety of purposes, including bridges, and partial dentures, and for orthodontic records like Invisalign. That is, until now. In September, we will become the first Oregon dental office to have the new iTero optical scanner, and one of the first general dental offices in the world to acquire this technology. We are extremely excited, because this means that we will reduce our use of non-biodegradable materials by well over 95%. Additionally, the optical impressions we take of your teeth will be far more accurate than ever before possible in any material, and we guarantee there will never be a second impression. And we will use this not only for crowns and bridges, but for all our orthodontic records (including INVISALIGN), and for our study models as well.
Of course, our primary concern has always been to provide the finest dental care for our patients, without compromise. So, just a gentle click from a camera as we image the necessary areas. Nothing could be simpler, easier, faster, or more comfortable for you.
