Located in southwest Ottawa, Capital Periodontics has successfully merged contemporary design and eco-friendly practices. When Dr. Shelemay designed the office, the goal was to create a warm, inviting space for patients, a comfortable work environment for staff, and to use the space as a centre for continuing education for the Ottawa dental community while keeping in mind environmental objectives.
Designing a new office allowed Dr. Shelemay the opportunity to incorporate traditional dental practices with new technologies that reduce the impact of daily operations on the environment. Paper consumption is decreased by using paperless office management software and cloth bibs and hand towels (instead of traditional paper charts and disposable paper products). The laundry generated by using cloth bibs and towels is managed in-office. Incorporating digital radiography (both panoramic and intra-oral) not only reduces radiation for patients and provides enhanced images, but also eliminates the use of chemicals needed to develop traditional radiographs. Another green choice was made when a dry vacuum system was installed. The more common ‘wet’ vacuum consumes large amounts of water, which end up in the sewer system. More environmentally friendly selections were made with the choice of finishes. Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint was used throughout, the flooring in the operatories is Marmoleum® (a natural alternative to vinyl), and porcelain throughout the rest of the office. Porcelain tiles are made of natural products such as clay and the manufacturing process essentially has no byproducts since any waste is re-used in the manufacturing.
Now, more than ever, dentistry can incorporate green practices in daily operations thanks to advances in technology, and be part of other industries looking after our planet.
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Capital Periodontics
Decorator — Darlene Weedmark of Darlene Weedmark Design
Contractor — Marco D’Angelus of D’Angelus Contracting
Dental Consulting — Jim McDougal of Sinclair Dental and Shawn Barnacle of Henry Schein Arcona
