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Mint Dental Works Becomes Nation’s First Certified Green Practice
Raises Bar for Patient and Environmental Health
Portland, Ore. – September 2, 2008 - Helping to shape the future design and operation of dental facilities, Dr. Jason McMillan today announced that his practice, Mint Dental Works, received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ platinum certification for Commercial Interiors. The award makes Mint Dental Works, which began accepting patients in June 2007, the first dental practice in the United States to earn this highly regarded certification. LEED is the nationally recognized benchmark for green building and operations governed by the U.S. Green Building Council. With its platinum certification, Mint Dental Works provides an unparalleled example of a progressive, environmentally responsible dental facility.
“In a professional office that seeks to improve the well-being of its patients, a healthy, green building that reflects this commitment makes good sense,” explains Dr. McMillan. “We want to demonstrate the relationship between one’s oral and physical health and the health of our environment to our patients, the dental community and the public.”
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Patients notice many of the project’s sustainable elements the moment they walk through the door. Shunning the sterile-looking environment of many medical offices, Mint Dental Work’s surroundings capture the imagination with reclaimed materials like vintage lighting fixtures and a reception area wall composed of old plinth blocks.
An array of features help Mint Dental Works meet aggressive environmental standards and serve as an educational model for healthcare professionals and industry suppliers:
Higher Indoor Air Quality
• A state-of-the-art HVAC system provides increased ventilation, and CO2 sensors.
• Custom dental cabinetry with no urea formaldehyde used in the manufacturing process.
• Low-emitting carpet systems, paints, adhesives, sealants and furniture.
• Green cleaning products to protect air quality.
Resource Conservation
• Highly efficient energy-saving heating and cooling systems.
• Energy-Star rated appliances and sensors for lighting to conserve electricity.
• Purchase of 100 percent green power to eliminate reliance on fossil fuels.
• An estimated 360 paper towels and 90 gallons of water saved each day through utilization of the following:
- Dental evacuation system that uses no water.
- Sensored faucets.
- Medical grade hand sanitizer for hand washing.
Waste Reduction
• Used furnishings and salvaged materials such as old school doors and reclaimed bowling alley flooring.
• Products purchased for construction and operations with a high recycled content.
• Recycling program for employees.
• 90 percent waste recycling during the project’s construction.
Dr. McMillan further promotes patient and environmental health through “eco-dentistry,” which uses mercury-free fillings to prevent toxic waste, and digital X-rays to reduce patients’ exposure to radiation by up to 90 percent.
In addition to being distinguished with the LEED-platinum award, Mint Dental Works has received a 2008 BEST Award from the City of Portland; 2007 Excellence Award for a Green Remodeling Project from the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland; and a Green Building Award through the Oregon Remodelers Association. The project has also been featured in national dental publications, DentalEconomicsand Sidekick magazine.
Dr. McMillan is a graduate of the Oregon Health and Sciences University School of Dentistry. He is currently consulting with Henry Schein Dental, the U.S. dental division of Henry Schein, Inc., which is the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets.
Caption for photo –
Left to right: Lee Lehman, Regional Manager, Henry Schein Dental (HSD); Jim Hammon, Equipment Sales Specialist, HSD; Dr. Jason McMillan; Scott Cook, Field Sales Consultant, HSD; and Greg Hirsch, Regional Operations Manager, HSD.