A dental practice which is believed to be the UK's first carbon neutral' surgery is to open in Kingston later this month.

Dr Bob Bhamra's practice Jiva Dental is due to open in Eden Street and has been given a stamp of approval from the Carbon Trust, which has assessed the business.

The practice has explored ways of offsetting its ecological footprint and has also looked at its use of materials, such as ensuring anti-bacterial flooring is from a sustainable source.

It will also use digital x-rays in place of traditional scans, which can result in waste chromium and other hazardous processing chemicals, according to a national Sunday newspaper report.

Chemicals used in teeth whitening and filling treatments which use potentially toxic metals are just two factors which make dental practices significant polluters.

However an increasing number of dentists are becoming better at disposing of and recycling these pollutants to reduce its environmental impact.