Eco-Friendly Dental Materials: Focus on Suction Systems

During my daily practice, after treating a large number of patients, I couldn’t help but notice the significant amount of plastic waste generated each day. For every patient, we use two types of suction: the high-volume evacuator (HVE) and the saliva ejector. While these tools are essential for maintaining a clean and efficient working environment, they contribute greatly to plastic pollution. This realization led me to explore eco-friendly dental materials as a solution, focusing on sustainable alternatives that could reduce the environmental impact of my practice.

Traditional saliva ejectors are often made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic that is difficult to recycle and potentially harmful. PVC is one of the most common plastics used in medical and dental equipment, but it’s also one of the most problematic when it comes to environmental impact.

Similarly, high-volume evacuation systems, typically made from plastics like polypropylene, add to the waste problem. After every treatment, these plastic tools are disposed of, ending up in landfills where they take hundreds of years to decompose.

This routine use of plastic is something I’ve grown increasingly concerned about over time. As a dentist who prioritizes both patient care and environmental responsibility, I started asking myself: How much plastic am I, and my practice, really contributing to the waste stream? When I sat down to calculate it, the results were alarming.

The Alarming Reality of Plastic Waste in Dental Practices

Consider this: If you treat 10 patients a day and use two suction tips per patient—one HVE and one saliva ejector—that’s 20 plastic suction tips daily. With a dental hygienist seeing 10 patients a day, that number doubles to 40 tips per day. Over a week, that’s 200 tips; over a month, approximately 800 tips; and in a year, an astonishing 9,600 plastic suction tips.

This volume of waste could fill a small room or about half the volume of a compact car. And that’s just from one dental practice! Now, multiply that by the number of dental practices in your city, or even your country, and the environmental impact becomes truly overwhelming.

Realizing this made me question the sustainability of our day-to-day operations. That’s when I started exploring eco-friendly alternatives to reduce the plastic waste generated by my practice. In my view, transitioning to eco-friendly dental materials is not just an option but a necessity for modern dental practices.

Eco-Friendly Dental Materials: Suction Systems and Sustainable Alternatives

I began exploring eco-friendly options like the Hygovac Bio. Made from renewable materials such as sugarcane, this suction system is fully recyclable and performs comparably to traditional options. The Hygovac Bio is designed to be fully recyclable, reducing its overall impact on the environment. Despite being made from bio-based materials, I found that it performed just as well as conventional options. It maintained its durability throughout long treatments, and its performance in terms of suction power was comparable to the plastic counterparts.

Another innovative product I tested is the ECOtip™ Earth Friendly High Volume Evacuator Tip. Crafted from biodegradable materials, it breaks down faster than traditional plastics if it ends up in a landfill. Using these eco-friendly tips gave me peace of mind, knowing that I was contributing less to the plastic waste problem. The ECOtip™ was also surprisingly efficient. Despite being made from biodegradable materials, it held up well during long procedures, and I didn’t notice any drop in performance.

Comparing Eco-Friendly Dental Materials: Practical Experience

After testing both the Hygovac Bio and the ECOtip™ in my practice, I was genuinely impressed with how well they performed. The fear with switching to eco-friendly products is that they might not hold up as well as their traditional counterparts, but that wasn’t the case here. The suction power was strong, and both products were durable enough to last through longer treatments without breaking down or losing effectiveness. However, the real benefit came from knowing that I was making a small but significant change in reducing plastic waste in my practice.

But how do these eco-friendly disposables compare with traditional autoclavable systems? For example, the Roeko Aspirator Tip, which is made of durable plastic and can be sterilized and reused multiple times, offers an alternative to disposables. Autoclavable suction tips have been around for a while, and they’re designed to be cleaned and sterilized after each use, reducing the need for constant replacement and, consequently, lessening waste.

Autoclavable vs. Disposable

Eco-Friendly Disposable Suctions:

Pros:

1. Energy and Water Savings: One of the biggest advantages of using eco-friendly disposables is that they don’t require sterilization. Sterilizing equipment in an autoclave uses a considerable amount of energy and water, both of which have environmental impacts. By eliminating the need for this process, eco-friendly disposables help reduce your practice’s carbon footprint.
2. Recyclable or Biodegradable Materials: They made from materials that are designed to break down more easily than traditional plastics. Whether through recycling programs or natural decomposition, these materials won’t linger in landfills for centuries.
3. Convenience: Disposable systems don’t require the time and effort involved in cleaning and sterilizing, which can streamline your practice and save valuable time for you and your team.

Cons:

1. Waste Generation: While eco-friendly disposables are better than their traditional counterparts, they still generate waste. Even recyclable materials can end up in landfills if not properly processed. In many cases, access to recycling programs can be limited, meaning these products might not be as eco-friendly as intended.
2. Higher Ongoing Costs: Since disposables need to be replaced after each use, the cost can add up over time. Even though they’re made from sustainable materials, you’ll still need to factor in the ongoing expense of continuously purchasing these products.

Autoclavable Suctions:

Pros:

1. Reduced Waste: Autoclavable suctions, like the Roeko Aspirator Tip, are designed to be reused, which means you’re not contributing to the waste stream after every patient. This is a significant benefit for practices looking to reduce their environmental impact.
2. Cost-Effective in the Long Run: Although there’s an initial investment in purchasing autoclavable tips, they can be reused many times, reducing the need for constant repurchasing. Over time, this can be more cost-effective compared to disposables.
3. Durability: These tips are built to withstand the rigors of sterilization and reuse, making them a long-lasting option for your practice.

Cons:

1. Energy and Water Use: The biggest drawback of autoclavable systems is the energy and water needed for sterilization. Autoclaves use significant resources to reach high temperatures and effectively sterilize equipment.
2. Maintenance: Autoclavable tips need to be properly maintained to ensure they remain effective. Over time, repeated sterilization can lead to wear and tear, meaning they’ll need to be replaced eventually.
3. Time-Consuming: Cleaning and sterilizing equipment takes time, which could be spent on patient care or other important tasks within your practice.

Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Dental Materials for Your Practice

Incorporating eco-friendly dental materials like biodegradable suction systems and other sustainable products can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of your dental practice. The choice between eco-friendly disposables and autoclavable systems depends on your practice’s priorities. If reducing waste is your main goal, autoclavable systems might be the better option. They cut down on the amount of waste you produce, and their long-term cost savings can be a bonus. However, if your practice is looking to reduce energy and water consumption, eco-friendly disposables could be the way to go. They eliminate the need for sterilization, and offer a sustainable alternative without sacrificing quality.

In my practice, integrating both eco-friendly disposables and autoclavable tips works best. This approach helps reduce waste and conserve resources while maintaining high care standards. Every practice is different, and it’s essential to evaluate your specific needs and environmental goals when making these decisions.

The Environmental Impact of Sustainable Dental Choices

The conversation around eco-friendly dental materials is just beginning, and suction systems are only one piece of the puzzle. As we continue to explore sustainable options in dentistry, it’s crucial to keep in mind that every small change adds up. By making more conscious decisions in our daily practices, we can collectively reduce the environmental impact of the dental industry.

In my latest blog post, I delve deeper into the broader topic of waste reduction, offering practical tips and strategies for minimizing waste across various aspects of dental practice. From eco-friendly products to sustainable habits, every step we take can make a significant difference in creating a greener, more sustainable future for dentistry.