A dental amalgam, or “silver filling,” is a material used to fill cavities. It is a combination of metals, elemental mercury, and a powdered alloy from silver, tin, and copper.
Fifty percent of the material is composed of elemental mercury. It allows the substance to react with and bind the metal particles together to form an amalgam.
Dental professionals are at risk of mercury exposure when working with amalgam. The World Health Organization states that elemental mercury is toxic to the peripheral nervous and central systems.
Amalgam can also cause harm to the environment. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published guidelines on reducing mercury discharge from dental offices. The regulation mandates dental offices to install amalgam separators.
An amalgam separator catches amalgam particles from dental office wastewater. The device is effective for waste management, as mercury fragments captured in the separator are recyclable.
Amalgam separators are classified based on their specific functions.
Investing in an amalgam separator can be expensive. It can cost around $800 to $900, with an installation fee of $250 to $300. Its operational cost per year is about $500. It is imperative to take care of the unit well, to maintain top performance.
In addition, interruptions during the procedure can happen. The separator may lose power because its container is full. No one wants that. Therefore, to avoid sudden breakdowns, here are some tips for choosing and maintaining an amalgam separator:
Amalgam is a common material used in dentistry to fill up the tooth cavity. It is more versatile and cost-efficient than other materials available. However, its mercury content raises concern on the safety of the people exposed to it. Amalgam is also dangerous to the environment once released to the wastewater, hence the need for a separator.
The best type of amalgam separator would be fully dependent on the practice’s daily load. Proper maintenance of the machine ensures safety, both for the dentist and the environment.