Can chair-side traps and vacuum filters capture all scrap amalgam and particulates?
A. Not all of the scrap amalgam and particulates are captured by the chair-side traps and vacuum filters. Grinding, drilling, and polishing of amalgam fillings may result in the production of fine particulate matter that passes through the chair-side traps and vacuum filters. The residual particulates remain in the wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer. Additionally, mercury may enter the wastewater from instrument washing, and chair-side trap and vacuum filter cleaning. Amalgam separators are designed to capture this form of amalgam from wastewater prior to discharging to the sanitary sewer.
