title: [Evaluation of amalgam separators].
abstract: There is an increased awareness about environmental protection and reduction of toxic waste. This applies also to the dental profession. One of the main concerns in dentistry is the reduction of amalgam slurry, which contains mercury, being drained by dental plants. The largest pieces of amalgam are stopped by the coarse filter. For eliminating the amalgam silt out of the sewage, amalgam separators have been developed. This paper presents an evaluation of seven separators, mounted in a preclinic set-up. The average particle size of the amalgam waste was determined. The flow-velocity of the separators differed very much between the different separators. One apparatus produced an inferior separation capacity compared to the others. Apparently not one was capable to purify the effluent to 0.05 mg/l during peak supplies of amalgam slurry. Other measures such as the reduction of the need for restoring, the use of alternative materials and modified preparation techniques, will further reduce the drain of amalgam silt by dental installations.
authors.affiliation: Universiteit Gent U.Z.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Surmont
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Enödy
mesh_terms: D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D018057:Dental Waste / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D018057:Dental Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury
vernacular_title: Une évaluation des séparateurs d'amalgame.