Safe Amalgam Removal

When removing an amalgam filling, it must be done in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner – which we take very seriously at Bronson Family Dentistry.

During amalgam removal, we first supply the patient with an alternative oxygen source through a nasal cannula. We then drape the patient and utilize a special “cleanup” high speed evacuator and employ the IQ Dental Flex Vac. The Dental Hg FlexVac is a mobile air cleaning system with a flexible suction duct. The system is designed to capture drill aerosols, abrasion powder, and mercury vapors during dental procedures.

AMALGAM SEPARATOR

Release Date: 09/27/2010
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it intends to propose a rule to reduce mercury waste from dental offices. Dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, account for 3.7 tons of mercury discharged from dental offices each year. The mercury waste results when old mercury fillings are replaced with new ones. The mercury in dental fillings is flushed into chair-side drains and enters the wastewater systems.

Only 12 states and a few municipalities require the removal of amalgam (mercury) filling material from the dental water drains. In our state of the art facility , we have installed a SolmeteX Amalgam Separator to protect the environment and to minimize the polluting effects into the Charlottesville wastewater system, and The Amalgam Collector in the McLean Office.