Amalgam Separator and Air Compressors

Amalgam separator are solid collectors installed on the vacuum lines of dental offices. They use gravity to capture all waste amalgam, along with any other solid material. As solids collectors, they don't separate mercury from rest of the material that goes down the drain. All of the material is stored in one canister, and mercury must be separated out at a recycling facility. Most separators are certified to remove 99% of dental amalgam, a level of effectiveness that exceeds the ISO standard and meets all local regulations.

Amalgam separators have, however, remained a bit of a mystery, and many dentists are hesitant to install them.This hesitation has been due to the cost of purchasing the unit, though some dealers are offering discounts and other incentives to encourage adoption. Questions remain regarding how the mechanisms work the difficulty of installation, and ongoing maintenance costs and the hassles. Fortunately, all of these issues can be clearly addressed. In general, amalgam separators are easy to install and operate. Chair side models may often be installed in just a few minutes by the dental team member, though central systems may require a little more time and the expertise of a plumber or technician. Maintenance is minimal and typically involves only replacing the container once it's full, generally every six to 12 months depending on the size of the practice and the number of chairs feeding into the system.

In evaluating Amalgam separators, the dental practice will want to consider the number of operatories they have, and whether individual chair side separators or a central system installed at the vacuum pump makes more sense. It's also important that the model be ISO-certified for effectiveness, though most models exceed this standard.Many brands of certified Amalgam separators are available on the market, so discussing with a dealer about their differences and costs can help to identify the best model for your practice.

Besides producing clean air (no oil, no water), a dental air compressor has some other features that are a must-have for many dentists. As dental air compressor are installed in a clean clinic, in a office-like environment (as opposed to an industrial environment), the compressor needs to be quiet, small and work on a standard 220 / 100 volt power outlet.As the dentist will be busy with its everyday job of fixing peoples teeth, he won't be very concerned with dental air compressor maintenance. So a maintenance free compressor would be ideal.

When buying a dental air compressor, also make sure that the output (the amount of air it can produce per minute or hour) is right for you. A too-small compressor will give you problem for the obvious reason that the pressure will drop when too many people use air at once.But a too big compressor can also cause problems. If the dental air compressor is so big that it only runs for 5 minutes a day, every other day, than problems with corrosion can occur, as the compressor never gets the chance to run for some time and get hot.

Amalgam Separators and Air Compressors

Very small pieces of amalgam are released when a dentist places or removes a restoration. These pieces usually collect in the office’s wastewater, which goes into the public sewer system.  Amalgamseparators can be used to collect the amalgam pieces so they can be recycled rather than enter the sewer system. An amalgam separator is designed to remove amalgam particles from the wastewater of a dental treatment center to reduce the number of amalgam particles and, therefore, the amount of amalgam entering the sewage system.

By installing an amalgam separator, your office will be removing up to 99.9% of the amalgam from the waste stream, thereby doing your part to eliminate mercury pollution in the environment. Chair side traps collect the large chunks of amalgam down to approximately 0.7mm when restorations are placed or removed. A wet vacuum filter system is capable of removing particles down to 0.42mm (40 mesh), when the fine filter is installed.  Chair side traps combined with a vacuum filter can remove 40-80% of the total mass of amalgam particles from the vacuum line system. With the installation of an approved amalgam separator and proper operation of the amalgam removal system, dental offices can prevent up to 99.9% of their amalgam waste from entering the sanitary sewer system and contributing to the accumulations of mercury in our lakes and streams. Not all amalgam separators are equally effective. It is important to perform routine maintenance on amalgam separators to ensure that they are serving their intended purpose of amalgam removal. Failure to perform maintenance and change cartridges or collector boxes when full can lead to bypass of the system and discharges of mercury in the wastewater.

The air compressor is the heart of the dental surgery and after the surgeon is arguably the most important piece of equipment.  Without ultra clean compressed air the hand pieces, scalers, 3/1 syringe, delivery units or chair valves won’t function. Air is also used to dry the tooth surface, when bonding composites for example. If the surface isn’t absolutely clean and dry the bonding process will not work and the patient will be back complaining! Air abrasion uses air to gently blast abrasive onto the tooth surface, it could be disastrous if dirty or wet air clogged the abrasive medium together. Consequently, the air must be of the very highest standard of cleanliness to protect the patient from infection, to ensure the correct adhesion of composites and long term performance of the dental equipment itself. Air compressors that aren’t built specifically for dental use cannot deliver dental quality air and ultimately puts both your patients and your instruments at risk. Dental air compressors are the only solution to ensure clean and dry air for instruments and patients. Dental air compressors protect instruments against premature failure. Dental air compressors protect the integrity of your work without the oil vapors that can compromise dental restorative materials such as bonding agents. Dental air compressors ensure that the compressed air has a neutral taste and odor. Dentists should select a model with dry reliability.

Dental Air Compressor | Cattani

Amalgam Retention & Separators: Dental Remedies

COMPLEX AMALGAM RETENTION Complex amalgam retention refers to one that involves three or more surfaces of the tooth. In recent years refer to an amalgam retention that replaces one or more cusps. It is the form given to the cavity to resist the displacement or removal of the retention from its place. If conventional retention features are not adequate pins, slots and bonded amalgam are used to enhance retention. As more teeth are lost more auxiliary retentive features are required. INDICATIONS They are used:
 • To replace missing teeth structure due to fracture or caries or existing restorative material.
 • When one or more cusps need capping.
 • When increased resistance and retention forms are needed. ADVANTAGES
 • Conserves tooth structure(less cutting).
 • Less time required.
 • Resistance and retentive forms significantly increased by pins and slots.
Primary Retention Form: During initial tooth preparation, the form & shape of the preparation need to provide resistance against fracture & retention of the restorative materials in the tooth for non-bounded retentions. Often, features that enhance the retention form of a preparation also enhance the resistance form. Definition of primary retention form: It is that shape or form of the conventional preparation that resists displacement or removal of the retention from tipping or lifting forces. The retention form developed during initial tooth preparation may be adequate to retain the restorative material in the tooth. Sometimes, however, additional retention features must be incorporated in the final stage of tooth preparation. Principles of primary retention form:
• Vary depending on the restorative material used.
• Amalgam
• Convergence of the cavity walls
• Undercuts
• Amalgam retention
• Composite
• Micromechanical bond to enamel & dentin
• Walls direction
• Cast metal
• Frictional retention
• Cement inter-locking, adhesive semen.
Amalgam retention is adjunct to mechanical retention form & not a substitute. Adequate mechanical retention features still must be incorporated into the preparation. Reviewing the retention form for different classes, different restorative materials. As the number of pins increases the retention in dentin and amalgam increases but the problems created also increases. Chances of:
1.Crazing of dentin increases.
2.The amount of available dentin between the pins decreases.
3.The strength of amalgam retention decreases.
Increasing the diameter also increases. It appears that amalgam will maintain a presence into the future. There is growing evidence to suggest that it will be in the presence of a retention resin, especially for large amalgam retentions. While tooth reinforcement and conservation of tooth structure are noted advantages, bonded amalgam retentions may provide the added advantage of improved marginal seal, but laboratory significance is still being tested for clinically importance. With a decrease in micro leakage, there is sure to be less post-operative sensitivity and less secondary caries. The bonded amalgam retention relies upon a strong, durable bond between the tooth surface, the adhesive resin, and the amalgam. The tooth surface must be well prepared to assure the adaptability of the resin bond and the amalgam retention. The adhesive resin must be strong and resistant to breakdown, especially at the retention margin. The amalgam must be selected wisely and manipulated with respect to long-term service. Unfortunately, current literature does not present long-term clinical studies of bonded amalgam performance to support its superior performance over traditional amalgam retentions. Bonded amalgams may prove to be a valuable retention for the practitioner, but only if fundamental amalgam principles remain in practice. Adherence towards sound operative principles, specific to the cavity-surface of tooth preparations for amalgam retentions, has been shown to improve longevity of service and marginal integrity. It is unlikely that retention will be routinely employed in preference to non-bonded amalgam retentions, but there is growing confidence in adhesive dentistry in the placement of large, complex amalgam retentions. It is the opinion of this resident, that bonded amalgams have a future. Very small pieces of amalgam are released when a dentist places or removes retention. These pieces usually collect in the office’s wastewater, which goes into the public sewer system. Amalgam separators can be used to collect the amalgam pieces so they can be recycled rather than enter the sewer system.