As a dental professional, one of your main priorities is the comfort of your patients. A large part of that is ensuring that the tools and equipment you use are up to date and in excellent condition. High-quality equipment is an excellent way to reassure your patients that their comfort and safety are always your top priority.
Dentistry is ever-evolving; as the industry advances, so does the equipment we use to provide our patients with the care they need. Properly recycling or disposing of your used equipment is a crucial part of the upgrade process.
Depending on the type of equipment that you wish to dispose of, there are rules and guidelines that must be taken into consideration and followed in order to ensure safe, responsible, and environmentally-friendly disposal.
What Happens to Used Dental Equipment?
Dental tools and other equipment that is re-used daily must always be fully sanitized and sterilized between each use.
Proper dental tool sterilization is a multi-step process:
- Instruments are cleaned of any visible debris. In most cases, this is achieved with manual scrubbing and soaking in an ultrasonic machine, which uses sound waves to shake debris loose.
- The instruments and tools are then rinsed and placed inside sealed sterilization pouches.
- The pouches are placed inside an autoclave. This machine uses pressurized steam to ensure complete sterilization, reaching an average temperature of 250-273 degrees Fahrenheit during an average cycle.
For equipment or instruments that can not be sterilized and reused – such as x-ray films and machines or old dental instruments that are ready to be retired – there are options for properly recycling them.
Recycling of X-ray Films & Machines
Digital x-rays are more efficient and safer for both the operator and the patient. As the industry shifts into the use of digital x-ray machines, there is an increased need for proper recycling techniques to dispose of traditional x-ray films and machines. Every day, more dentists are inquiring about how to dispose of dental x-ray products.
Traditional x-ray machines made prior to 1979 may contain lead, beryllium and PCB-contaminated oil; it is absolutely imperative that proper recycling guidelines are followed.
Below are a few different popular options for recycling dental x-ray machines:
- Sell the machine to a used dental equipment vendor (try doing a Google search for “who buys used dental equipment near me?”)
- Donate the machine to a company that repurposes or recycles used machines (place a Google search for “x-ray machine recycling near me”)
- Donate the machine to a reputable non-profit such as Partners in Health
- Sell parts for scrap
- Transfer ownership to another practice or licensed dental professional
Traditional x-ray film contains silver emulsion, which is flammable and potentially dangerous to our environment. What’s more, is that they are considered to be private patient information, and therefore must be properly disposed of to abide by HIPAA regulations.
In order to properly dispose of x-ray films, it is best to use a HIPAA-compliant recycling company; most melt the film down to extract the silver and protect patient privacy.
Recycling of Old Dental Instruments
While most dental instruments are designed to be sterilized and reused, there comes a time when replacement is needed.
Are dental instruments recyclable?
Continue Reading: How to Recycle Used Dental Equipment