At the Elm Tree Clinic, top priority is placed on providing you, the patient, and our team with a safe, healthy and pleasant working environment.

We strongly believe that this must include safety and health for the environment of the planet as well. Click here for our Environmental Program

Safety Program- protecting our patients and staff:

Air Filter and Exchange System: Our entire office is equipped with a high volume air exchange system and HEPA filter which replaces the air every hour, filtering out any particles over 1 micron in size. This assures constant clean fresh air supply, and removes chemicals, bacteria, mercury vapour, etc.

Instrument Sterilization and Infection Control

All our dental instruments are heat, steam, and pressure sterilized in a state-of-the-art Statim autoclave after each use. Our sterilizer is tested on a regular basis to ensure that it is operating properly.

Surface Disinfection: All exposed horizontal surfaces in the operatory are disinfected between each patient, using environmentally friendly, biodegradable but highly effective Micrylium (R) Green products (Note: Link will open in a new window). These are the lowest toxicity to staff and paitents, but very effective against bacteria and viruses.

Surface barrier protection:You will notice that we have disposable plastic wrap on all contact surfaces which are changed between patients, and our cupboards, drawers and taps are all hands-free operated to avoid contamination.

Waterlines in the operatory are on a sealed system. They are completely sterile, and are tested regularly to ensure they contain no bacterial colony-forming units.

X-Rays and Radiation Safety

Our x-ray units and films require very little radiation to be emitted. We use the new F-speed films, which require an even lower dose than the Ektaspeed film we used in the late 1990s, and far less than regular or ultraspeed film. Combine this with the use of a lead apron and thyroid collar, and the exposure to radiation when taking only necessary radiographs is minimal. We take only the minimal number of x-rays that are required for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Our equipment is tested on a regular basis. Our operatory walls and cabinets are lead-lined to prevent any unnecessary x-ray exposure to patients and staff.

Hazardous Waste Removal and Recycling

Mercury Capture system: Dr. Ehrlich was the winner of the 1998 Environmentalist of the Year award in Caledon. The Elm Tree Clinic endeavours to be as environmentally-responsible as possible. Our office was one of the first in Ontario to be equipped with an amalgam recycler, which allows us to capture any mercury-silver filling debris removed from teeth which enter our suction lines, and ship it for proper handling and recycling.

X-ray chemicals and other waste:  The lead foils in x-ray films are also collected, and sent for recycling. All our biohazardous waste is collected separately, and disposed of properly, according to local and provincial guidelines.

Environmental program- protecting the environment for all of us.

Energy Efficiency

Dr. Ehrlich authors an environmental column in the Caledon newspapers called Clean Air Clean Energy. You may link to these articles here.

Oct. 2007-  Dr. Ehrlich was one of the 3 winners of the first Bullfrog Splash Awards for contribution to the environment. Article in Caledon Enterprise Oct 07

Electicity generation is the #1 smog creator in Ontario, thanks to our antiquated coal-fired generators. We have tried very hard to reduce the smog due to our office by increasing our energy efficiency and buying only clean power.

NEW for 2005- We are buying 100% Renewable Power from Bullfrog-
Ontario's only 100% renewable power supplier!

The Wind turbine at Port Albert

This year we are now buying 100% renewable energy from Bullfrog Power.  Anyone in Caledon can get their power from them.  It's a mix of wind energy and Ecologo-certified hydroelectric, but no coal, nuclear or gas power.

Energy Efficient Lighting: We use high efficiency halogen and compact fluorescent lighting throughout the office for energy efficiency. Click here for more info.

Heating We had an Energy Efficiency Audit in 2000 to help us decrease heat loss and improve heating efficiency. You may learn more about this here.

Cooling: During the summer, we open all the windows first thing in the morning and use evacuation fans to vent out all the stale warm air. When the day heats up we close them and activate our air conditioning. This means our office is a bit warmer than 20 degrees in summer, but it also reduces the electrical demand right when it is highest, so less smog is produced from electricity generation.

Computers, hubs and power bars- We shut down all our computer systems every night and also shut down the UPS and power bars they connect to, so all the peripherals don't use energy 24 hours a day.

 New for 2005 We have switched entirely to  notebook computers and EnergyStar compliant LCD monitors to save more energy. For more information, click here.

Green Transportation: Dr. Ehrlich runs, bikes or skis to work much of the time instead of driving. He's saved about 300 car trips a year! For more info on transit options and other alternatives in Caledon, click here.

We also make a point of walking to the post office instead of driving, as short-haul trips are big pollution sources. (The vehicles never get a chance to warm up, and the emmisions controls don't work on short trips.)

Water Efficiency:
 Our suction unit is equipped with a water recycler to reduce water consumption, and our hands-free taps and high efficiency taps and toilets help reduce water usage too. For more information on energy conservation through water reduction, click here.

Recycling:
We recycle all of our cardboard. Our office paper is shredded and recycled. All plastic containers are recycled. We even compost!