FOCUS | ISSUE 1 | 2010


BMP education at Winter Session a success MDA Committee now working to extend online CE opportunity for members in near future


by Dr. Tom Stone MDA Best Management Practices for the Environment Committee Chair


With the environment being on the top of the minds of many, the MDA saw the importance of a campaign to encourage dentists to make “Small Changes Toward a Big Difference” by promoting the ADA’s Best Management Prac- tices for Amalgam Waste.


As we’ve discussed in previous issues of the Focus, this effort started with a survey of members this past summer. The goal of the survey was to give the MDA a baseline assess- ment of BMP usage in dental offi ces so that we could design an effective educational program for our members.


The MDA partnered with the University of Mis- souri Extension Offi ce of Social and Economic Analysis and the University of Missouri Offi ce of Environmental Assistance to collect and analyze the survey data and to assist with program development.


In addition to the survey, the BMP Ad Hoc Committee has worked to develop an educa- tion program for the membership about BMP for amalgam waste management and a public relations campaign highlighting that dentists are environmentally conscious.


The fi rst steps of the program focus on the ed- ucation of our dentists about amalgam waste collection and recycling through the voluntary use of amalgam separators in dental offi ces.


We were thrilled to formally kick off the education portion of the program at the recent 2010 MDA Winter Session where Dr. Fred Eich- miller, a leading dental amalgam expert, spoke about the ADA Best Management Practices.


Additionally at the meeting, many corporate and product partners were on hand to visit with MDA members and discuss solutions to more successfully incorporate BMPs into their offi ces. We thank them for their attendance and support, as we couldn’t be doing this as effectively without their commitment. These partners include:


• Corporate Partners: MDIS, Delta Dental of Missouri, Goetze Dental and Patterson Dental


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MDA’s efforts have garnered attention by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency and the ADA, as seen in this recent edition of the ADA News.


• Product Partners: Amalgaway, Dental Recycling of North America, R&D Services, MailYourSharps.com and SolmeteX Dental.


These partners also helped make the CE course fun by sponsoring prizes that course attendees were eligible for. Thanks to all who attended the session and congratulations to the follow- ing winners:


• Dr. Richard Bohon, Columbia – $500 toward separator purchase, donated by Amalgaway and R&D Services


• Dr. Brian Vierthaler, Maryville – Separator donated by SolometeX Dental


• Donamarie Murphy, Jefferson City (Offi ce of Dr. Lawrence Davis, Jefferson City) – Big Green Egg Gill, donated by Dr. Tom Stone, BMP Chair


• Dr. Philip Poynter, Maryville – Northwest Gift Basket, donated by Amalgaway and R&D Services


• Dr. Cheryl Haley, Ozark – Amalgam Dis- posal Kit, donated by Amalgaway


• Libby Sanderson (Offi ce of Dr. Brad Miller, Columbia) – Amalgam Disposal Kit, do- nated by Amalgaway


In addition to the support from these compa- nies, we’d be remiss to not acknowledge the efforts of Marie Steinwachs with the University of Missouri Environmental Assistance Offi ce who has been a vital part of our efforts.


“We are proud to be a part of this MDA initia- tive and will continue to help however we can to contribute to its success,” said Marie. “This effort led by the MDA—to encourage better management of amalgam and other dental practice wastes—demonstrates that the dental community cares about the environment.” And, that’s why The Environmental Assistance Center exists—to assist all types of businesses in improving environmental performance.”


MDA’s efforts have garnered attention and appreciation by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protec- tion Agency and the ADA. In fact, the Janu- ary 18 ADA News featured MDA in “Missouri program to educate dentists on amalgam waste BMPs kicks off this month” (read the article online at www.modental.org/bmp).


The next step in the education program we’re excited about is that very soon MDA will have available as an online CE course for members Dr. Eichmiller’s course presented at Winter Ses- sion “Putting into Place the BMPs for Amalgam Waste”. Topics will include Amalgam and its history; Mercury uses and toxicity; Amalgam and the environment; ADA Best Management Practices; Amalgam Separators; and, Resources for practice implementation.


The MDA will announce the CE course avail- ability as soon as it’s developed for online delivery. In the meantime, you can go online to www.modental.org/bmp to learn more about these efforts and to access resources to help you begin making “Small Changes Toward a Big Difference” for Missouri’s environment; you also can see the list of committee members who we thank for their continued dedication to this effort.


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