Blog and Articles

Dentists are familiar with amalgam, a mixture of metals used as a dental filling material to fill the cavities left by tooth decay issues. By now, dentists also should be familiar with why it is such an environmental concern – the mercury it contains.

Dental amalgam waste, and the mercury found within, have been a hot topic throughout the industry for the last couple years because of a rule from the Environmental[...]

Dental practices and similar facilities that handle amalgam waste are now required to have amalgam waste separators in place for removal and recycling. However, many practice owners and managers may still be trying to identify the best equipment and recycling service providers for their practices.

While being in compliance with all EPA regulations regarding amalgam separation, it’s important for dental offices not to[...]

People working in the dental industry – and other health-related industries – are no strangers to personal protective equipment. But throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic, the public has become increasingly aware of the importance of personal protective equipment, or PPE.

As more people take an interest in proper PPE use, patients of dentists and professionals working in other dentistry-related fields[...]

Adherence to proper cleaning and disinfecting practices is as critical in dental facilities as it is in any other type of healthcare facility.

Between patients and staff, dental offices see a high level of foot traffic, which requires close attention to be paid to all aspects of hygiene. This better protects the health of every person who steps foot inside the facility, whether for employment or for treatment.

Ensuring[...]

Amalgam waste recycling needs to be top-of-mind for everyone in the dental industry.

With new regulations going into effect next month, dentists in practices and other facilities must all be aware of the best practices for managing and handling dental amalgam.

Keep reading to learn why following these best practices is so critical.

Why proper dental amalgam management is important

Dentists have long used and are very[...]

Everyone who works in a dental practice, whether as a dentist, assistant or administrative personnel, has a duty to create and maintain a safe, clean environment not only for employees, but also for patients.

In fact, maintaining that safe environment sits alongside the responsibility to deliver a high-quality, comfortable level of care as any office’s top priorities. As any health care setting, these offices must[...]

As with any type of waste created in dental offices and similar facilities, infectious waste is subject to many federal, state and local regulations. However, must be handled with an elevated level of caution and care.

This is even more true when certain infectious diseases are known to be circulating in a given community, such as COVID-19. We will get to how that emergent disease is affecting the dental community, but[...]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s amalgam rule requires that most dentists be in compliance on July 14. That’s approaching fast.

Is your dental practice in compliance with the EPA’s rule? If not, now’s the time to take the necessary steps to make sure the office is in compliance. Most dental practices must have amalgam separators installed by the July 14 deadline.

The EPA established this[...]

Hazardous waste is a workplace reality for every dental practice. As with any other type of office that provides medical services of any kind, employees of dental practices must have a plan in place on how to deal with the various forms of hazardous waste they encounter throughout their day-to-day activities.

However, the fact that there are more than a few types of hazardous waste materials that dentists and others[...]

Time is running out for dental practices that have not yet installed dental amalgam separators.

This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that requires most dental practices to install and maintain amalgam separators will go into effect. By that point, dental facilities should already have dental amalgam separators installed, in operation and have a plan for how they will maintain compliance with the new[...]

Like all healthcare facilities, dental offices must always be kept impeccably clean. Without a focus on cleanliness, dental offices could inadvertently be turning away patients and employees - and could be placing those individuals at risk of health and injury issues, too.

That's simply not acceptable for any business, but certainly not a dental practice. Patients will take notice and head elsewhere for their dental care[...]

Dentists and dental practices must be well-versed in many regulations that affect their industry. This includes waste management, a very broad area considering how many different types of waste are handled in dental facilities.

Dental waste management best practices must cover dental amalgam, silver, clinical waste, pharmaceutical waste and sharps. With all that to handle, it's no wonder the American Dental Association[...]

Every dentist and dental practice comes in contact with pharmaceutical waste. Not only is it important for office employees to properly handle pharmaceutical waste, but it is also important that they ensure the waste is disposed of properly per regulations.

As with any form of waste handled by dentists, which can include dental amalgam, x-ray waste, sharps and more, pharmaceutical waste is closely regulated. It must be[...]

Many jobs come with hazards that employees must take into account. Dentists and others employed by dental practices are no different.

As the entity charged with creating and enforcing rules regarding workplace safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) keeps a close eye on one potential hazard those working in the dental industry are well aware of: mercury that is found in dental amalgam.

Numerous[...]

Less than a year from today, Environmental Protection Agency regulations requiring the separating and recycling of dental amalgam go into effect. This means your dental practice, if it has not already, needs to install and begin using an amalgam separator.

If you are working to come into compliance with the EPA’s regulations, then you have come to the right place. Dental amalgam has been a hot topic in the industry[...]

A good first impression can be made or broken by appearances. Dentists and their patients know this, as a sparkling smile can make a great first impression.

But dentists also know there’s another first impression that they must manage: office cleanliness. When people visit a dental office, they expect a clean environment.

If somebody is in search of a new dentist, they will often want to visit the office before they[...]

As dentists work to find the best treatment method for each of their individual patients’ needs, X-rays will be one of the practices undoubtedly considered as an option for exploring how to proceed with treatment.

However, although X-rays are a vital tool for those who work in offices or other dental settings, this tool has become a focus of the American Dental Association and the Environmental Protection Agency.[...]

Though dental amalgam is considered by the American Dental Association as a safe, affordable and durable material for use in filling cavities and restoring teeth, the importance of its proper disposal cannot be understated.

That’s due to the environmental concerns presented by mercury, a chemical element present in amalgam. Dental amalgam is a mix of liquid mercury and a powder that is made up of silver, tin, copper,[...]

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation on the use of amalgam separators being finalized and the compliance date being set for July 14, 2020, it is definitely time for dental practices to brush up on their knowledge of amalgam separators.

Every dental practice should be familiar with amalgam separators, how they work, how they can differ by type and why they are an important feature of every[...]

Dental offices generate a lot of waste. Some of that waste needs to be disposed of properly and there are regulations in place that ensure this happens.

In dental offices, medical waste falls into several regulated categories include dental amalgam, pharmaceuticals and sharps, among others.

Sharps are the most common medical waste in dental offices, according to AEGIS Dental Network.

Sharps are also the most publicly[...]

Dental amalgam has been a topic of conversation for many years because of one primary ingredient - mercury. Though studies are widely available that show amalgam is absolutely safe for patients and for dentists to use when filling cavities, many patients still have questions.

Dental offices should be prepared to not only address patients questions, but also to understand why recent EPA regulations focus on dental amalgam[...]

Most people know dental amalgam fillings as silver fillings because of the silver color of the material used to fill cavities. It's a very common type of filling because it's durable and effective.

Dental amalgam contains small amounts mercury, though. This is why amalgam waste, in bulk, becomes a concern.

If your dental office doesn't properly handle its amalgam waste, the mercury found in the material could put the[...]

Is your office in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s dental amalgam waste regulations?

As the 2020 compliance deadline approaches, your dental office should be taking significant steps toward achieving compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) dental amalgam rule. The rule manages how to prevent amalgam waste from entering wastewater and sewer systems.

Realizing that proper[...]

For many years, lead was used in all kinds of applications. The oldest known item made using lead is an Egyptian figurine from 4,000 BC!

It took centuries for people to discover that lead actually carries a lot of risks. However, it still has some uses in the modern day, especially in the medical and dental fields.

If you work in a dental office, you'll definitely need to know about proper lead disposal. Not sure how to[...]

The United States passed many of the current environmental protection laws in the 1970s. In 1976, the US passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA. RCRA is one of a handful of environmental statutes that deal with specific types of waste.

Most dentists are aware of laws that require them to properly dispose of biological waste. But did you know that dentists are also subject to RCRA?

Not sure what RCRA is[...]

The proper disposal of medical waste became a concern for the EPA in the 1980s. Materials began showing up on beaches along the east coast that scared the nation.

There are regulations specific to area and state, as well as regulations that fall under the federal rule of EPA. It's important to understand regulations to promote the health of your community and avoid any punitive measures.

We've compiled a list of some[...]

With around 195,722 dentists practicing in the U.S. as of 2012 alone, you can bet there are massive amounts of dental waste being produced.

Is your practice in compliance with all the new regulations for waste management?

If you're not sure, it's time to find out!

We've made it very simple with this guide to understanding dental waste management. Here are 6 common types of dental waste and how you can dispose of them[...]