Amalgam waste disposal in dental hospitals of Peshawar

ABSTRACT

The study was done to find out the methods for dispensing the dental amalgam and its disposal in three dental teaching hospitals of Peshawar according to American Dental Association [ADA] Standard and International Standard Organization Standard [ISO]. A specially designed questionnaire was sent for this study. The results showed that none of the dental teaching hospital in Peshawar follows the ADA and ISO standard for the disposal and recycling the amalgam waste. Only 9% claimed using the chair side traps and install amalgam separator at chair side, 64% used the hand mixing alloy / mercury procedure. Number of amalgam fillings done and removed by three dental hospitals per month were 2027 and 267 respectively. It was concluded that total amalgam waste Was 3.204 kg in three dental hospitals in one year, and proper measures should be taken for the dispensing and disposal of amalgam