According to a recent EPA ruling, starting on July 14, 2017 new dental offices will be required to install an amalgam separator, while existing dental offices will have until 2020 to comply. Needless to say, Aliso Viejo Dental has one installed for almost 2 years now, effectively stopping toxic waste in amalgam traps that are collected monthly and recycled together with sharps and other biohazard materials, typically disposed by dental offices.
We don't use amalgam/mercury in our office at all, the only waste comes from safely removing old ones, in a process that protects the Patients and the staff from vapors or debris (yes, some other dental offices still offer amalgam/mercury fillings for their Patients!).
When you go to your dentist next time, please ask those questions:
1. Do you currently have an amalgam separator and traps installed in your office?
They might still have some 3 years to comply, but that is a long time and a lot of mercury going into your city's sewage system.
2. When you remove mercury fillings, what is done to protect me and the staff from mercury vapor? During dental procedures involving placing or removing mercury fillings, the amount of mercury vapor released drastically exceeds OSHA limits.
3. Do you still place "silver" mercury fillings? If the reason is price and insurance coverage think about the small extra price you would rather pay for composite, tooth colored fillings instead.
If you still have questions or need to safely remove your old amalgam fillings by a S.M.A.R.T certified dentist please contact us at 949-425-1447 or visit our website at AlisoViejoDental.com
