Are dental practices a problem for mercury entering the environment?
The major source of mercury in a dental practice is from amalgams. A dental amalgam is a mixture of powdered silver, tin, copper and elemental mercury which quickly harden to form a solid mass. It usually contains approximately 50% mercury. There is some debate as to the safety of these amalgams, and a small segment of the population does show symptoms of mercury sensitivity. Present science states that this mercury is not readily available as a pollutant once the amalgam is installed in the patient’s mouth. To date, tests performed on amalgams have had mixed results. However, mercury dust, from replacement filling work and particles, suctioned from the mouth and discharged down the drain, could be an area of concern. The screens in the drains catch most of the mercury fragments. When these drains are cleaned, the amalgam chunks should be collected and stored as hazardous waste. They should not be flushed down the drain or entered into either the biomedical or solid waste streams. Merc
