Dr Davinder Raju, founder of the Dove Holistic Dental Centre, has been recognised by the World Dental Federation (FDI) for his trailblazing approach to sustainability at his practice. The Dove Holistic Dental Centre has sustainability at the heart of everything it does, from on-site energy generation via 34 solar panels and infrared heating, to eco-friendly materials and equipment. The result is a fully eco-friendly dental practice whose mantra is minimal harm, whether to teeth or the environment.
The FDI is the principal representative body for more than 1m dentists worldwide and has the promotion of environmental sustainability as one of its key objectives.
More and more patients are looking for eco-friendly healthcare with a significant proportion of millennials and Gen Z who feel sustainability is a priority issue for them. This is backed up by a recent survey at Dove Holistic Dental Centre which revealed 94% of their patients would recommend the practice based on its environmentally friendly approach.
The practice is the inspiration for Greener Dentistry Global, a sustainability hub and accreditation programme created by Dr Raju to enable all dentists to minimise their environmental impact.
What’s good for the environment is also good for business. An analysis of energy costs shows a remarkable 20% reduction following the move to Dove Holistic Dental Centre, despite the practice being bigger with more surgeries and having more energy-intensive equipment. And the practice generates £700 income in a year from the solar panels.
Speaking about receiving the FDI Sustainability Award, Dr Raju says: “When my wife Subpreet and I set up the dental practice, we were driven to innovate ways in which we could improve the health of both patients and the environment. It means so much to us both to be honoured by the World Dental Federation (FDI) and to see the Dove Holistic Dental Centre recognised on a global stage.”
He added: “Sustainable dentistry is a win-win-win. It’s better for the planet, better for our patients, and better for our business.”
Dr Raju is donating the 1000 Swiss Francs prize money to the Greener Dentistry Global (GDG) reforestation programme. The programme supports the planting of fruit trees in poor areas of the world to help those communities generate a livelihood. In addition, Dr Raju is inviting colleagues to try the GDG programme for free. Any dentist signing up can explore membership benefits in full, including the carbon calculator, and for each new member, three fruit trees will be planted.
