Current amalgam separators: What you don't know

The AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD/AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION SPECIFICATION No. 108 publication, “ Amalgam Separators “, states “ Amalgam separators are items of dental equipment designed to retain amalgam particles carried by the waste water from the dental treatment center, so as to reduce the number of amalgam particles and therefore the mass of amalgam entering the sewer system “. Current amalgam separators are ineffective in dealing with hazardous waste that occurs when the operator mechanically or electronically shuts off the flow of the suction aspirating device shortly after an amalgam procedure whereby Hg/amalgam particles settle into the bio-film of the dental unit's chair-side traps and the attached suction and water-waste lines thereby never reaching the inline amalgam separators. Over time this clogs chair-side traps and attached lines with Hg/amalgam particles ,a real danger to both health care workers and patients being treated as dentists employ chemicals that may release harmful toxic methyl mercury. 22.26 Hg/amalgam tons is unaccounted for in tracking of Hg/amalgam waste in chair-side traps. Such environmental hazards call for reevaluation of amalgam waste collection in dentistry. A “SOURCE “ collecting single patient use disposable amalgam separator is needed that meets the definition of “ Amalgam Separators “ according to ADA Specification 108 and FDA's 510K requirement for class 2 devices as a cost effective alternative.