ORA Dental Studio, the nation’s first “green” oral surgery practice, recently opened its second location at a 4,200-square-foot renovated space in the South Loop for oral surgery services. The practice blends a modern environment and state-of-the-art technology with eco-friendly practices, procedures, and products. “We want ORA to lead the way for the next generation of dental offices and be one that creates a cleaner, healthier, more environmentally responsible dental experience, while empowering our doctors, our team, and our patients to live an eco-minded, sustainable lifestyle. We employ a minimally invasive treatment philosophy with our patients, so it was only natural to extend that approach to our daily clinical and business practices.”

ORA not only practices green healthcare, but builds sustainable, green facilities as well.

The creation of the South Loop practice strictly followed GGHC (Green Guide for Healthcare) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards throughout all construction, interior design, and current operational phases. Concern for the environment and sustainable development — minimizing the impact of consumption of renewable resources — is a necessary and growing consideration for everyone. Both consumers and patients are beginning to realize that their choices in supporting green businesses reflect a responsible commitment to their communities.

“We have designed a dental practice that reflects our commitment to the well-being of our patients, our team members, our community, and the environment.

We are also completely committed to offsetting our residual carbon footprint by annually contributing to reforestation campaigns, energy efficiency programs, and renewable natural energy sources,” said Steven Koos, MD, DDS, managing partner and oral and maxillofacial surgeon. “The medical field has already demonstrated a growing eco-consciousness and, as both a physician and dentist, I want to bridge the gap and bring the dental industry on board with delivering green healthcare as well.”

ORA implements a host of environmentally conscious day-to-day operations, some of which include a paper-free office with digital charts and radiographs, a revolutionary green biohazard neutralizing waste disposal system, and eco-friendly cleaning products. All of ORA’s appliances, audio-video equipment, and information technology systems are Energy Star rated and the studio utilizes energy-efficient compact fluorescent, LED (light-emitting diode), and special low-voltage efficient halogen lighting throughout its space. Additionally, there are sensor-automated, certified lowflow faucets and lavatories and GreenSpec certified electric hand dryers to eliminate paper waste.

In keeping with its minimally invasive treatment philosophy, ORA Dental Studio incorporates the latest “green” dental technology such as digital x-rays, which reduce patient radiation by 90% and eliminate toxic processing fluids, lead foil content, and film manufacturing compared to traditional x-rays; VelScope immunofluorscence used for oral cancer screenings and early detection of oral cavity abnormalities, eliminating the need for solutions, dyes, and the production of traditional testing materials; and the Navigator soft tissue laser for nonsurgical treatment of periodontal disease and minimally invasive treatment of oral pathology.

In addition, ORA is one of only a few centers in Chicago that offers the i-CAT 3-D cone beam digital CT scanner for oral and maxillofacial imaging. The i-CAT offers the most complete and accurate information on the anatomy of a patient’s mouth, face, and jaw areas available today. Anatomy that clinicians once estimated is now completely visible in a three-dimensional view. This leads to more accurate diagnoses, treatment planning, minimally invasive procedures, and predictable outcomes for patients’ oral and maxillofacial procedures.

The doctors at ORA are members of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) and the EDA (Eco-Dentistry Association), and are collaborating to form the association’s Midwest Chapter. They are official endorsers of the GGHC (Green Guide for Healthcare) and are Energy Star partners with the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). They are currently enrolled in the Leadership in Green Healthcare Program and are partners with HCWH (Health Care Without Harm), Practice Greenhealth, and the Teleosis Institute, which is a leading advocacy group of healthcare professionals in service of the global environment and sustainable medicine.

The doctors at ORA also participate in the Give Back a Smile program, providing dentistry for victims of domestic abuse; the One Step at a Time summer camp for children with leukemia; and the DDS (Donated Dental Services) program, donating services for the disabled, elderly, and medically compromised.

Some patient comforts at ORA Dental Studio include treatment rooms with in-wall iPod stations to play your own music, Bluetooth headphones, high definition satellite television and radio during treatment, massaging treatment chairs, Wi-Fi within the space, as well as a refreshment bar with organic drinks. The office has even developed a small plot of adjacent land to create its own zen garden.

ORA’s new South Loop practice is located at 1827 S. Michigan Ave. Call (312) 328-9000 or log on to www.orasurgery.com to experience what eco-friendly dentistry is all about.