Like any industry, Dentistry is the latest to get a face-lift in light of all the new technology on the market today, with regards to waste management. This is a face that is environment friendly, civic minded, and ready to do its part in eliminating toxic mercury emissions into the environment. This has followed extensive discussion in and out of the dental community about mercury management and the treatment of amalgam. Not only was the problem identified, but the many possible solutions on the market today worth investigation. There has been a mixed response in the dental community as to how dentists treat the discharge of mercury containing amalgam from their offices. Dentists have used amalgam for over a hundred years because it has proven to be a powerful binding agent for fillings in restorative dentistry. How they have treated the disposal of dental amalgam, however, has spurred training videos, pamphlets and brochures on the best management practices.
Why capturing amalgam in wastewater is important: Dentists worldwide consume 3 to 4 percent of all mercury produced. According to Malcolm Boyle, senior engineer and manager for the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center’s Pollution Prevention Program, “Because dentists are in the healthcare field, they realize that they’re handling toxic materials that could affect the health of the public”. And mercury is a persistent and deadly contaminant in the water environment.
The mercury in amalgam waste that dental offices dispose of can become methyl mercury after undergoing any of the following processes: a. Amalgam in wastewater from a dentists office is incinerated during disposal releasing water-soluble ionic mercury into the air, where it infiltrates rain and snow; b. The precipitation falls into bodies of water; c. Microbes in the organic sediment on the floors of the waterways interact with the mercury, forming methyl mercury; d. Methyl mercury enters the food chain. Tiny aquatic creatures eat the sediment, fish eat them and people and other animals eat the fish. Mercury never leaves the environment, it changes media.
Why we need improved technology: Best management practice guidelines from the dental associations detail correct disposal, instructions for disposal, regular office hygiene and proper amalgam separation. The filter traps (sieves) that are supplied with all current dental units cannot be considered effective amalgam separators because the amalgam particles are smaller than the holes of the traps. An important step in solving the problem remains the installing of amalgam separators on waste water lines to trap escaping amalgam particles – a practice done in Europe and Canada for more than a decade, but catching-on in the USA.
How Dentists Benefit: This need not be an expensive venture for dentists: separators range from $500 - $4000. These are all ISO certified devices that are capable of cleaning up a dental practice. The choice of separator may vary according to vacuum system, facility size and location of equipment. As the dental and water authorities are beginning to discover, paying for the service of producing clean water need not be a costly undertaking, which is a face-lift for dentists and the environment.