Amalgam fillings have been used since the 19th century to restore tooth function and help patients smile again. They are more durable and less costly than other materials, but their silver color makes them less aesthetically pleasing than the more popular white composite fillings. The mercury content of amalgam also brings up public safety and environmental concerns. This is where dental amalgam separators come in.
Amalgam separator systems are used in dental practices to trap and contain amalgam particles, ensure proper disposal of mercury, and prevent it from contaminating the environment. The best amalgam separators are built to remove at least 99% of the mercury that enters dental suction lines and wastewater.
In this article, we will examine the critical uses, features, and benefits of amalgam separator systems for the safe collection and disposal of amalgam waste.
The position of the American Dental Association is that amalgam is a safe restorative material, yet its usage is on the decline. Environmental concerns about mercury have prompted the US and other countries to set regulations and compliance and reporting requirements for the safe handling and disposal of dental amalgam. Why is this vital?
Mercury is a neurotoxin that has been known to enter our food chain through waterways and contaminate marine life. If amalgam gets flushed into dental office drains and enters public treatment plants, it is separated out with the sludge that remains after the water is treated. The mercury in the amalgam can then pollute the environment when this sludge is disposed of.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, therefore, set guidelines for dental effluent to reduce mercury discharge from dental offices into publicly owned water treatment works. Fortunately, amalgam separators enable the capture, containment, and recycling of mercury and other metals before they have a chance to reach community sewers.
Amalgam separator systems use gravity to collect not just amalgam but all solid waste, using sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, or a combination of the three. In doing so, they have the added benefit of extending the life of vacuum pumps by collecting solids before they reach the pumps. Additionally, some amalgam separators use ion exchange mechanisms to single out and remove mercury ions from wastewater, further protecting public health and the environment.
Dental professionals understand the importance of safeguarding public health by minimizing the environmental impact of amalgam use and disposal. Amalgam separators enable dental practices to comply with regulations safely and efficiently, avoid any penalties, and protect their community water supplies.