Chicago, Illinois - ORA Dental Studio joins Transcendentist in Berkeley and Pure Dental in Dallas as the Eco-Dentistry Association's (EDA) first recipients of GreenDOC™ ‘Gold' certification. The EDA announced the first charter and certified offices at the Chicago Mid-Winter Dental Meeting in February 25-27, 2010.

"Achieving this certification is just one of several ways that we have distinguished ourselves as clinicians who not only promote overall oral health and wellness, but who also promote community and environmental health as well," says Dr. Goran Kralj, co-founder of ORA Dental Studio.

The Eco-Dentistry Association, an international association promoting environmentally sound practices in dentistry, announces a powerful new offering for dental professionals. The EDA's GreenDOC™ Dental Office Certification Program is the only green business certification designed specifically for dentistry. The program provides everything dentists need to achieve their perfect shade of green.

"What the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) and their LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is to the building industry, the EDA and their GreenDOC™ certification is to the dental industry," says Dr. Steven Koos, co-founder of ORA Dental Studio. "This is an authoritative, comprehensive program that will differentiate true eco-friendly offices from those just attempting to market themselves that way."

The GreenDOC™ Checklist of Standards for Green Dental Practice is the foundation of the GreenDOC™ program, providing comprehensive eco-friendly initiatives in eight implementation categories. The GreenDOC™ Checklist is available to EDA members on the Association's website at www.ecodentistry.org/GreenDOC.

The GreenDOC™ Product Guide is the industry's comprehensive listing of products and services that green dental offices need to go green and stay green. The EDA has sourced the products and services that share a vision for clean, green dentistry, making it easy for dental professionals to achieve earth friendly initiatives. Products and services appear in one or more of the following GreenDOC™ categories: Sustainable Location; Waste Reduction; Pollution Prevention; Energy Conservation; Water Conservation; Patient Care, Workplace Policies, and Community Contribution; Leadership, and Innovation.

"ORA's vision from day one was to create a unique dental practice and business model that is healthier for our patients and a more productive place to work for our employees," says Dr. Mladen Kralj, co-founder and lead developer of ORA Dental Studio. "Partnering with the EDA, ORA is helping shape the future of dental practices."

Combined, the GreenDOC Product Guide and GreenDOC™ Checklist provide dentists with the first key steps to greening their dental practice. Additional components of the GreenDOC™ Program lead dental practitioners through a rigorous but attainable certification program. GreenDOC™ "How To" Guides, Action Plans and Worksheets make it simple for dental professionals to meet specific goals to achieve Bronze, Silver, or Gold Certification.

About the Eco-Dentistry Association

The EDA offers dental professionals' practical tips on incorporating eco-friendly dental methods and practices, and offers the public access to dental professionals that share their values of wellness and environmental stewardship. The EDA's members are located in 42 U.S. States and 11 countries. The organization was co-founded by Dr. Fred Pockrass, a dentist, and his entrepreneur wife, Ina Pockrass, who together created the model for eco-friendly dentistry, and operate their own award winning dental practice in Berkeley, California, the first in the country to be certified as a green business. They formed the organization to stimulate a movement in the dental industry to employ environmentally-sound practices, like reducing waste and pollution, saving energy, water and money, incorporating wellness-based methods and the best technological advances in dentistry. More information can be found at www.ecodentistry.org.

About ORA Dental Studio

ORA Dental Studio is Chicago's and the nation's first and only ‘green' group dental practice promoting Eco-friendly Dentistry®. ORA delivers the perfect synthesis of a chic, zen-modern environment, state-of-the-art green technology, minimally and non-invasive services, and eco-friendly protocols and products that are uncommon in traditional dental practices and unique to Chicago.

ORA Dental Studio's eco-initiatives start with the meticulous design and construction of its dental practices that strictly followed LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and GGHC (Green Guide for Health Care) protocols. Through conscientious planning ORA has created high performance ‘green' facilities that are healthier for their patients, more productive places to work, less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce their environmental footprint. ORA's Wicker Park practice will be the first LEED™ Silver certified dental practice in Chicago, and one of only a handful in the nation.

ORA Dental Studio is also a dental industry leader in the delivery of Green Healthcare, garnering numerous awards. Among them, ORA is one of the first dental practices in the nation to achieve the EDA's (Eco Dentistry Association™) certification at the highest level – GreenDOC™ Gold. ORA was also inducted as an EDA Charter Certified Practice, a distinction that honors practices that are innovators and leaders at the forefront of dentistry's green wave. In addition, ORA will be the first dental office to receive the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award and Clinic Partner for Change Award at the international 2010 CleanMed Conference's Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony in Baltimore.

Founded by Dr. Mladen Kralj, Dr. Goran Kralj, Dr. Steven Koos, and Dr. Reggie Thurston, ORA Dental Studio offers comprehensive general, cosmetic and oral surgery services such as: non-invasive laser periodontal therapy; BPA-free composite resin restorations; non-invasive ozone treatment; metal-free/lead-free porcelain restorations; laser teeth whitening; Invisalign clear braces; smile makeovers with porcelain veneers; dental implants; sedation "sleep" dentistry; and wisdom tooth extractions.

ORA Dental Studio currently has four locations in downtown Chicago's West Loop, South Loop, Wicker Park, and Gold Coast neighborhoods. In the fall of 2010 ORA plans on opening its fifth location in the Roscoe Village neighborhood at the Green Exchange (www.greenexchange.com) the nation's largest sustainable business community. For more information about ORA Dental Studio visit www.oradentalstudio.com.

# # # # #