sfenvironment.org

Environmentally Responsible Dentistry

Dental offices use and generate potentially hazardous substances, the most common of which are amalgam (silver) fillings that contain 40 to 50 percent mercury by weight. Other hazardous materials include the lead and silver in X-ray processing and the chemicals used to sterilize equipment.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the Department of the Environment in conjunction with the San Francisco Dental Society have launched the Dental Mercury Reduction Program to regulate mercury pollution caused by dental practices and provide information on safer alternatives to chemicals commonly used in dentistry. Under this new program, dental offices are required to implement amalgam best management practices and limit mercury discharges to the lowest practicable levels through installation of an amalgam separator -a device that removes mercury particles from the wastewater produced by a dental office.

The City maintains a list of amalgam separators that are approved for use by San Francisco dentists. Dental offices have to consider many factors when choosing an amalgam separator that is most appropriate for a particular practice, such as available space, type of vacuum pump being used, and cost. Once installed, an amalgam separator must be diligently maintained in order to ensure proper functioning and mercury pollution prevention. The City also maintains other resources to help local dental practices:

---