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Go Green! – Sustainable Habits To Practice All Year

The silver lining of 2020 was that our environment benefited.

This past year we have seen reduced emissions and less resource consumption; while probably none of us ever want to experience a pandemic in our lifetimes again, the positive impact on the environment has been incredible.

Here are some simple changes to continue this impact at home and in your dental routine to create a happy, healthy, sustainable home.

Home

Wash Your Clothes In Cold Water

Up to 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward heating water. So skip the heating and just use your washing machine on the cold water setting. This way, you reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but you also keep your clothes in top condition longer. For those hard to get stains, try the warm setting.

Skip The Dryer When You Can

The sunny and hot months are the perfect time to line-dry your clothes outside. Your clothes and bedding will last longer if you hang them out on a drying rack instead of drying them in the dryer.

DIY Instead of Buying New

We know everyone has an inner HGTV star when it comes to crafting, so why buy new when you can get creative for a fun weekend project? There are excellent guides to DIY and transform any piece of furniture or decor.

Swap Out Your Regular Light Bulbs for LED Bulbs

Investing in the correct energy-efficient light bulbs makes a huge difference not only to the environment but on your electricity bill. Plus, they last longer than traditional bulbs.

Dental Routine

Turn The Water Off

This simple action can save you over 200 gallons of water a month just by turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth. This will also lead to savings on your water bill.

Switch Up Your Floss Routine

Floss is key to a healthy smile and can be a green aspect of your dental routine. Biodegradable Floss and Reusable Floss Handles are just a couple of options. The Reuseable Handles allows you to use less floss and easier to reach the teeth at the back of your mouth.

Use A Bamboo Toothbrush

Bamboo is a great alternative to plastic. Bamboo grows very quickly (up to four feet per day) and is compostable where plastic pollutes for more than 500 years. This is one of the ways we help the environment at our offices, every patient receives a Bamboo Toothbrush.

These are just a couple of small changes that can make a big impact on our environment!

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Dr. Laura Lan

Dr. Laura will be in our office over the next couple of months. Dr. Laura Lan grew up in Los Angeles, California. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Laura made her way out to the Midwest to attend The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

In her free time, Dr. Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, and practicing yoga.

FUN FACT… Laura was a classmate of Dr. Rachel’s at Ohio State, and while Fara is a year ahead of Laura and Rachel, she is a close friend of Fara’s from dental school.

Steve M. Jones, D.D.S

Dr. Steven M. Jones is a graduate of Shawnee High School. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he received his B.A. in Microbiology in 1986. Four years later he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree (D.D.S.) from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Dr. Jones entered private practice in 1990 in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Jones also practiced in one of the first after hours dental emergency clinics in the country. After several years of private practice, he returned to his hometown of Lima, Ohio. Dr. Jones served as a clinical instructor at the Lima Technical College Dental Hygiene School and began planning a new general practice in the Lima area. In 2002 Dr. Jones opened the newly constructed Northwest Dental Center. Dr. Jones is a member of the Ohio Dental Association, American Dental Association, Northwestern Ohio Dental Society & Academy of Contemporary Dentistry in Columbus Ohio.

Dr. Rachel Salen, D.D.S.

Dr. Rachel Salen grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania until her family moved to Quincy, Illinois where she graduated from Quincy Notre Dame high school.

She then crossed the Mississippi River to study at Saint Louis University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Classical Humanities. Her family then moved to her father’s hometown of Warren, Ohio, leading her to choose The Ohio State University College of Dentistry for her post-graduate education where she would go on to earn her Doctorate of Dental Surgery.

Dr. Salen is very excited to begin her career serving the great people of West Central Ohio.

Dr. Salen will make a great addition to our patient-centered team by providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages, including operative, prosthodontic, endodontic, and surgical treatments.

In addition to delivering great dental care, Rachel enjoys taking too many pictures of her cat, traveling across the Midwest and Northeast to visit her family and friends, and reading a good book!

Fara Hurt, D.D.S.

Dr. Fara Hurt grew up in Lima, Ohio. She is a graduate of Elida High school.

Dr. Hurt earned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Fara worked for several years in the Columbus area, helping patients with their oral health needs and supporting patients with their periodontal care.

As a dentist, Dr. Hurt will make a great addition to our patient-centered team by providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages, including operative, prosthodontic and endodontic treatments In addition to delivering great care, Fara enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys hiking, traveling, and attending football games.

Mary Wiechart, D.M.D

Dr. Mary Wiechart is a Lima native. She is a graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School. Dr. Wiechart earned a Bachelor of Science in Nature Sciences from Xavier University. She earned a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.

Her practice includes operative, prosthodontic, endodontic and surgical treatments. In addition to delivering great care, Mary enjoys spending time with family, friends and her dog, Bella. She also enjoys baking, golfing, traveling and listening to music.

Jill A. Miller, D.D.S

Dr. Jill A Miller is an Elida native and Elida High School graduate.

She is a graduate of Ohio Northern University and earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Ohio State University in 2009.

Dr. Miller provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages and strives to make patients feel comfortable. Her goal is to make going to the dentist a pleasant experience for children and adults.

Dr. Miller has served as externship site host for Ohio Northern University and has partnered with the University of Northwestern Ohio to provide emergency dental care to student athletes.

Dr. Miller is a member of the Ohio Dental Association, American Dental Association, Northwestern Ohio Dental Society, and the Ohio State University Dental alumni society.

In her spare time, Dr. Miller volunteers in the children ministry at her church, enjoys running and spending time with her husband, Zac, and their 3 children.