Brush up on your dental waste knowledge

More than any other healthcare provider, dental surgeries produce a significantly large amount of hazardous waste[1]. If dental waste is not managed correctly, it can end up in water streams and become harmful to both humans and environment. In addition to this, if strict legislation that governs the use of amalgam is not followed, businesses could end up with hefty fines as a result.

Regulations on the use of dental amalgam

Amalgam is widely used in dental treatments such as cavity and tooth fillings and contains up to 50% of mercury. The World Health Organization identifies mercury as one of ten chemicals that can pose a serious threat to public health[2] due to its effect on the CNS (central nervous system) kidneys, lungs, eyes and skin among other implications. Humans can commonly become exposed to mercury through eating seafood, industrial processes and healthcare processes.

For this reason, the EU has set out certain regulations on the use and disposal of mercury and amalgam in dental practices to limit it’s negative impact.[3]

Dental professionals should be made aware of the legislation and follow best practices at all times. Although some rules have already been implemented other deadlines are fast approaching[4].

• Amalgam should be used in pre-dosed encapsulated form from January 1st 2019.
• Unless medically necessary, amalgam should be used in dental treatments on women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children aged below 15, and on deciduous teeth.
• Amalgam waste must be disposed of and handled by an authorised dental waste disposal company.
• All dental practices to be equipped with an amalgam separator. By January 2021, all separators must retain at least 95% of amalgam particles.

About Amalgam Separators

2021 may seem like a long time away however it’s important that your dental practice takes the right steps to be fitted with the correct amalgam separator in advance. Being ahead of the curve will ensure your business is taking vital steps to minimize negative effects on human health and the environment.

Amalgam separators work by collecting amalgam particles including those that are contained in wastewater through the use of sedimentation, filtration, centrifugation or a combination of these three processes.[5]

Citron Hygiene can ensure you are compliant with regulations through our specialist dental services that includes the supply of a wide range of Durr and Cattani amalgam separators.

Safe and Effective Disposal of Dental Waste

In addition to installing the right amalgam separators, all dental facilities should have the right provisions in place to dispose of dental waste. Dental waste should be managed and collected by an authorised clinical waste company to be in accordance with strict legislation.

Citron Hygiene can ensure you are compliant with the latest regulations with our leading dental waste management package. This comprehensive package can support dental practices and their complex needs ensuring the correct waste bins are available for all hazardous and non-hazardous dental waste. The full package includes dental mould recycling, amalgam separators, CODE kit provision and sharps disposal system.

The complete package is fully supported by our locally based waste disposal experts who will ensure waste is disposed of correctly, ensuring your business remains compliant at all times and continue to run smoothly with minimal disruption.

Be compliant by choosing the right dental waste disposal company

It’s more important than ever to stay compliant with dental waste regulations in this ever-changing industry.

Our knowledgeable experts at Citron Hygiene can help you understand complex legislation and can provide a high-quality dental waste management service in accordance with this.

For more information on our services, get in touch with our friendly team by calling 08000 66 55 52 or use the contact form at the bottom of this page.