Are chair-side traps and vacuum filters enough to capture dental amalgam?
These traps and filters do capture a portion of the amalgam waste, which is usually “coarse” dental amalgam; however, various studies suggest approximately 40% – 60% of the dental amalgam waste passes through these traps and filters. Amalgam separators ensure the capture of “fine” materials and waste that passed through the traps and filters. In addition, some dental facilities are switching from wet vacuum pump systems to dry vacuum pump systems. Dry vacuum pump systems do not require a vacuum filter.
