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Objectives: Dental clinics are one of the major producers of mercury-containing waste due to the use of dental amalgam. The atmospheric transport and persistence of mercury and its compounds in the environment, coupled with their high potential for bioaccumulation and detrimental effects on human health and ecosystems, underscore the necessity for effective management of mercury waste. Due to the lack of comprehensive and integrated guidelines for the effective management of dental amalgam waste in Iran, the objective of this study was to adapt a guideline for the management of amalgam waste in dental settings within the country. Materials and Methods: The method used was based on the adaptation principles presented by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and included searching and reviewing guidelines related to the management of amalgam waste in developed countries, extracting recommendations, revising the recommendations considering the local infra-structures and conditions, and receiving expert opinions and reaching consensus according to the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method. Results: The final guideline includes 34 recommendations in 5 areas: management of the amalgam scraps, considerations for dental equipment, management of the extracted teeth containing amalgam restorations, management of the amalgam capsules, and considerations for placement and replacement of the amalgam restorations. Conclusion: The use of this guideline in medical universities, public and private dental clinics, along with the supervisory role of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, can be a way to minimize the environmental hazards of mercury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing focus on environmental sustainability has prompted the healthcare sector, including dentistry, to reconsider waste management practices. Dental offices generate various waste streams from outdated technologies, including single-use plastics, hazardous materials, and digital waste. This scoping review explores how integrating circular economy principles with lean management practices can enhance sustainability and operational efficiency in dental clinics. Using the PRISMA methodology, the review identifies 30 articles that passed the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist from 2000. Circular economy principles focus on reducing waste and maximizing resource reuse, while lean management seeks to improve efficiency and minimize process waste. Together, these approaches can significantly reduce resource consumption and enhance recycling efforts in dental practices. Despite barriers such as high technology costs, regulatory constraints, and limited recycling infrastructure, case studies highlight successful implementation in healthcare settings, demonstrating improved environmental and operational outcomes. Collaboration between dental professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders is essential for promoting the adoption of these sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing worldwide worry about dental waste stems from the widespread use of materials in dental treatments. Therefore, it was crucial to conduct a comprehensive analysis to evaluate how dental waste is handled by dentistry professionals and students, resulting in important discoveries. Objectives: This study seeks to investigate dental waste management procedures among dental students and practitioners while assessing the various forms of dental waste produced in different departments. Moreover, it aims to explore possible strategies for improving the handling and disposal of dental waste. Methods: Students, interns, teachers, and practitioners completed an online questionnaire to provide primary data. A survey was conducted using random sampling procedures to obtain a sample of 406 persons from different dental institutions and hospitals. Results: The research findings indicated that a significant percentage of staff members and students exhibited awareness of appropriate disposal techniques for different categories of dental waste. The Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology faculty members have shown exceptional skill. In general, the participants demonstrated a significant understanding of proper disposal methods, especially for items linked to dentistry. However, there were differences in knowledge levels across other departments, as shown by a greater proportion of skilled staff in departments like Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology and Orthodontics compared to the students in such departments. Conclusion: This research highlights the need to include thorough waste management education in dentistry schools to tackle the increasing environmental and health issues related to dental waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The improper management of hazardous solid waste in dental care offices poses significant risks to public health and the environment. Dental offices generate hazardous waste, including biological and chemical contaminants, which can lead to infections, pollution, and harm if not managed properly. Effective waste management practices are crucial, yet compliance varies significantly across regions, especially in Latin America, due to limited resources, inadequate training, and insufficient infrastructure. This study compares hazardous waste management practices in dental offices in Talara, Peru, and Machala, Ecuador, to provide actionable recommendations for improvement. Policy and Implications In Peru, hazardous waste management involves critical steps such as conditioning, segregation, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal. Compliance minimizes exposure risks and environmental contamination. Ecuador emphasizes administrative and operational aspects, including policies, records, training, and procedures. Improving practices in both countries can model enhanced waste management across Latin America. Recommendations To address challenges in Talara and similar Latin American cities, it is essential to strengthen administrative systems, increase budget allocations for waste management, and develop comprehensive training programs. Waste management should be prioritized within public policy agendas with clear guidelines and accountability measures. Both cities need improved resource allocation, modern waste treatment facilities, and centralized storage solutions. Continuous education and certification programs are crucial. Implementing integrated policies, regular reviews, and robust compliance mechanisms based on Machala’s practices can benefit other regions. Public awareness campaigns and regional collaboration through workshops and research initiatives are also recommended. Conclusions Significant disparities in hazardous waste management exist between Talara and Machala. Talara requires strengthened systems and improved infrastructure, while Machala’s practices serve as a model. Tailored interventions can enhance public health and environmental outcomes across Latin America. Regular monitoring, evaluation, and collaboration are essential for sustained improvements.

Objective: Dentistry produces waste contributing to climate change and adverse health outcomes, thus reducing waste is essential; however, there has been minimal emphasis on sustainability or climate action in dentistry. Waste audits quantify the type and amount of waste produced and may inform waste reduction strategies. We conducted a waste audit to identify areas of potential waste reduction and recommend interventions to reduce waste. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, we conducted a waste audit of garbage produced during a typical 4‐hour pre‐clinical restorative dentistry simulation exercise. The sample was composed of 72 second‐year dental students. This exercise is part of a standard curriculum with a uniform format regarding supplies used and participants. Potentially infectious materials were not used during this exercise. Results: In total, 26.6 kg of waste was discarded. Plastic was the largest contributor by mass (57.5%), followed by paper barriers (19.6%), then impression materials (6.5%). We found 894 gloves and 70 masks discarded. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we categorized waste reduction opportunities into policy changes, purchasing sustainable materials, and increasing awareness through education. Specific suggested actions include: relaxing glove and gown requirements during laboratory simulations; replacing single use items with more sustainable options; increasing use of intraoral scanners; and posting informational signage with examples of what can be recycled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12) promotes patterns that minimize waste and maximize resource utilization. It is therefore plausible that preventing Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and promoting oral health can contribute to sustainable consumption. In addition, sustainable consumption and production can contribute to the control of ECC. This scoping review aimed to explore the possible evidence on the link between ECC and the SDG12 targets. Methods This scoping review identified articles on the link between resource consumption and production and caries according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were systematically searched in August 2023, using specific search terms. Studies written in English, with full text available, addressing dental caries and linked with waste minimization and resource utilization maximisation, with results that could be extrapolated to ECC in children less than 6 years of age) were included. Descriptive statistics were planned to summarize the categories of retrieved papers. Results The initial search yielded 904 articles, with 863 screened for eligibility after the removal of duplicates. No studies were identified that reported data on an association between responsible consumption and production of resources factors and ECC. Conclusion This scoping review did not identify any articles published in English on evidence of the direct associations between ECC and SDG12 targets. However, there is a plausibility of such a link using minimum intervention dentistry for ECC management as a waste prevention and resource utilisation maximization strategy.

Featured Application: This scoping review emphasizes the environmental responsibility of dental healthcare concerning dental solid waste. It calls for a collective effort to ensure that the practices aimed at preserving health do not compromise the well-being of our planet and future generations, avoiding the improper disposal and accumulation of dental waste. In the face of 21st-century environmental challenges, including climate change, migration pressures, and waste disposal issues, certain healthcare sectors, notably dentistry, pose a significant global environmental footprint with concerns about carbon emissions and waste production. This scoping review searches the paradox that healthcare, while dedicated to safeguarding health, inadvertently contributes to environmental degradation through waste accumulation and disposal. The analysis of the relevant literature emphasizes the imperative for an environmentally sustainable approach to dental waste measurement, disposal methods, and comprehensive education for stakeholders. Aligned with the World Conference on Sustainable Development and the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, the study adhered to PRISMA-ScR systematic review guidelines and the Institute of Medicine's recommendations. The study utilized Medline/PubMed and international organization websites for data retrieval, employing Boolean operator queries in Medline. The systematic literature analysis identified six cross-sectional studies (2004–2023) highlighting variations in dental waste composition due to the lack of standardized identification methods. This heterogeneity underscores the need for a proposed research model, emphasizing comprehensive methodologies and healthcare staff training in waste management, thus transforming the analysis into a scoping review. The study advocates for environmentally conscious dental practices, contributing to broader sustainable healthcare goals through sharing of a research protocol for dental solid waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental healthcare plays an important role in the overall health of individuals, and the sector is rapidly growing around the world due to increases in population, healthcare facilities, and improved access for economically weaker sections of society. Dental procedures and oral care generate a significant amount of biomedical waste that should be managed in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner. An overview is presented of the current status of dental solid waste management with a focus on waste composition from traditional and emerging dental treatments, new-generation dental materials, waste treatment procedures, and current options. Dental waste can be broadly divided into three categories: infectious waste, non-infectious waste, and domestic-type waste. Infectious waste contains materials contaminated with blood or other infectious mouth fluids, amalgam, and sharps, whereas non-infectious dental waste is devoid of human fluid contamination but can be potentially toxic due to the presence of amalgams, acids, metal dust, resins, etc. Suspended particulates in dental wastewater are another likely source of contamination. Appropriate segregation of this waste is essential for containing infections during waste processing. New-generation dental materials, such as nanomaterials, resin-based composites, and ceramics, are finding increasing applications in a variety of dental procedures as antimicrobial, restorative, and therapeutic agents. While incineration and landfilling have been used for processing traditional dental waste, the presence of novel materials in dental waste raises several additional concerns. Novel single/multistage recycling approaches need to be developed for dental waste towards resource recovery, thus minimizing incineration and landfilling to the extent possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the amounts of infectious medical waste (IMW) have surged considerably so waste management has become a critical emergency in many developing countries. However, most large medical waste generation centers (MWGC) are equipped with treatment facilities, small MWGC faces the waste management problem. It reveals the significance of having a proper program for small health centers. This is an indisputable difficulty that governments bordered because it imposes great costs on societies, also the environmental problems caused by improper treatment are irreparable. To attend to all the essential aspects of the problem, this paper recommended a location-routing model with four objective functions to minimize the total costs, environmental pollution, the risk imposed on the population around disposal sites, and the total violation from the expected arrival time. Considering a multi-period problem with a maximum acceptable delay plays a key role to connect the assumptions to the real-world problem. In addition, for solving mathematical models based on case studies, the role of uncertainty is undeniable. The demand for dental waste treatment is not definite and is changed based on the different conditions thus fuzzy chance-constrained programming is proposed for this problem to tackle the uncertainty. The revised multi-choice goal programming method is considered to solve the model and a real case study for dental clinics in Babol city of Iran is investigated to illustrate the validation of the proposed model. The results indicate that the solution method can create a balance between four objective functions. Finally, sensitivity analyses are performed for some parameters to analyze the behavior of the objective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims and Objective The present survey was done to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice of undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and practitioners about disposal of common biomedical wastes and materials used in dentistry regularly. Materials and Methods The survey (23 questions) was conducted on 162 participants categorized as undergraduates (n = 54), postgraduates (n = 54), and practitioners (n = 54) to assess their knowledge, awareness, and practice. Results When questioned whether they were aware of disposal of waste according to color categories, 69.8% were aware of it, 2.5% were not, and 27.8% were not sure of the color-coded categories. When subjected to statistical analysis, the data were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.017). Only 58% were aware that the number of categories of biomedical waste management is divided into four categories based on new regulations. There was statistical significance between the scores of undergraduates and practitioners (p = 0.046). Conclusion There is a gap between knowledge and implementation of segregation of waste at source; certified carrier service should make sure all the wastes are segregated from the dental practitioner's premise with an update on dental materials segregation for dental clinics and laboratories. Frequent updates of biomedical management of waste rules should be performed by the certified carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management is a crucial issue in the contemporary world, playing a significant role in the fight against environmental problems. Inadequate waste management leads to the pollution of air, water, and soil with toxic and harmful substances and to the emission of greenhouse gases, thereby contributing to climate change, the reduction of biodiversity, and the destruction of ecosystems, as well as to the emergence of diseases and allergies in animals. The management of waste is primarily determined by its type and source, with recycling, incineration, and landfilling being the most common methods. The healthcare sector, with limited opportunities for waste reduction, has its own unique approach to waste management. In particular, dental waste presents a considerable environmental risk due to the hazardous and toxic substances it contains. A prime example of such substances is mercury (Hg), a toxic and bioaccumulative metal that was commonly used in dental amalgam for over a century. With the available statistical data, it is possible to recognize that dentistry can pose a serious threat to the environment, and steps can be taken to control and reduce the production of toxic waste and its potential impact on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of 21st-century environmental challenges, including climate change, migration pressures, and waste disposal issues, certain healthcare sectors, notably dentistry, pose a significant global environmental footprint with concerns about carbon emissions and waste production. This scoping review searches the paradox that healthcare, while dedicated to safeguarding health, inadvertently contributes to environmental degradation through waste accumulation and disposal. The analysis of the relevant literature emphasizes the imperative for an environmentally sustainable approach to dental waste measurement, disposal methods, and comprehensive education for stakeholders. Aligned with the World Conference on Sustainable Development and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, the study adhered to PRISMA-ScR systematic review guidelines and the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations. The study utilized Medline/PubMed and international organization websites for data retrieval, employing Boolean operator queries in Medline. The systematic literature analysis identified six cross-sectional studies (2004–2023) highlighting variations in dental waste composition due to the lack of standardized identification methods. This heterogeneity underscores the need for a proposed research model, emphasizing comprehensive methodologies and healthcare staff training in waste management, thus transforming the analysis into a scoping review. The study advocates for environmentally conscious dental practices, contributing to broader sustainable healthcare goals through sharing of a research protocol for dental solid waste management.

Zinc Oxide is an indispensable substance in the field of dental treatment. It is used daily and intensively in all governmental and private dental clinics, leading to the disposal of very high concentrations of zinc with waste and eventually in landfill sites as a final destination for solid waste removal. This indicates the urgent need to investigate its behavior upon disposal due to the surrounding conditions. Approximately 4195 g of mixed dental waste samples were collected from (17) healthcare centers in Baghdad Al-Karkh. The leaching behavior of ZnO powder was investigated through batch reactors using makeup dental solid waste samples. The ZnO leaching was tested with 3 conditions; acidic, alkaline, and Ionic Strength (IS). The acidic condition was considered the most hazardous condition compared with basic and salinity due to the increasing tendency of ZnO to release Zn ion within waste leachate. In solutions with low pH, the dissolution of ZnO tends to produce zinc ions due to the attack of the ZnO surface by proton. In solutions of pH more than 9, the degradation of zinc oxide produces hydroxide complexes. Increasing (IS) decreased zinc concentration in leachate samples with time by promoting solids aggregation, decreasing the repulsive forces of ZnO particles, and accumulating in the bottom of reactors.

The objective was to evaluate the management of waste from health services by dentists who work in public and private networks. The study was a field, quantitative, and descriptive research with 48 public and private network professionals. Data collection took place between December 2020 and March 2021, through the application of a questionnaire with 40 questions, which was disseminated in social networks and applied via Google Forms after approval by the Research Ethics Committee. Data were submitted to descriptive statistics and the association test between variables (chi-square). It was observed that 29.17% of the participants are not aware of the disposal of Health Service Waste (RSS), 39.58% are unaware of the disposal procedures for expired medicines and their leftovers, 47.92% are unaware of the Health Service Waste Management Plan, 45.83% are unaware of how long it has been implemented, and 77.08% stated lack of training on RSS management, as the main difficulty pointed out for adequate waste management. It is essential to promote permanent education practices that contribute to training and professional performance on RSS management and instigate the implementation and operation of the municipal waste management plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many international dental organizations have been advocating for sustainable practices in dentistry, whereby significant reductions in environmental impacts are needed. The aim of this study was to analyze dental clinical waste in a university clinic setting to explore opportunities for sustainable practices., Material and Methods: Fifty dental units (chairs) that are routinely used in delivery of dental treatment and involved supervising clinicians, dental students, and patients were randomly selected, and the clinical waste generated was collected, segregated, and weighed. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences in waste production based on treatment performed., Results: The mean waste production generated by each chair was 81.4 g of aprons, 56.2 g of gloves, 17.2 g of masks, 24.0 g of sterile wrappings, 48.8 g of other plastics, 100.8 g of cellulose-based items, and 25.8 g of miscellaneous items. Higher waste was generated from the chairs performing endodontic procedures when compared with examinations. A potential annual greenhouse gas saving of approximately 10 kg CO 2 e per year (when one patient is treated daily) can be achieved if sterile wrapping plastics were to be recycled., Conclusions: Simple yet achievable opportunities for efficient clinical waste management at university clinics exist, which in turn will increase environmental sustainability in the post-COVID-19 era. Increased awareness and incentives for sustainable measures could potentially enhance the possibility of wider adoption of ecofriendly approaches., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

BACKGROUND: Biomedical waste can potentially compromise the environment and public safety if not safely disposed. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the understanding and safe practices of biomedical and dental waste amongst the dental practitioners and practical year students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A structured and validated questionnaire consisting of 21 closed ended questions was used to collect data from dental practitioners and students working in hospitals and clinics. The questionnaire was distributed in paper and digital form amongst the participants. Descriptive analysis was performed for categorical and numerical variables. Spearman correlation test was used to assess the relationship between awareness and waste disposal practices of dentists. A p-value of≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: More than three fourth of the participants were aware of proper dental waste disposal steps. One half was aware of the color-coded segregation of biomedical waste management. Two third of the participants were deploying safe biomedical waste practices. Nearly 68% subjects allocated separate labeled containers for disposal of COVID-19 suspected patient's waste. Furthermore, 71.63% participants were practicing PCR test before aerosol procedures. While 88.65% participants believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the financial burden in terms of safe practices and dental waste management. CONCLUSION: The awareness and practices of the participants towards dental waste management was found to be moderate. Satisfactory COVID-19 prevention and transmission measures were observed amongst the participants. BMW management lessons should be included in the academic curriculum and training program needs to be adopted for mass awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental restorative material mercury amalgam - which is composed of approximately 50% mercury - has been used for centuries. Although many alternatives to amalgam are available or under development, its mechanical, inert, durable and cost-effective properties mean that globally it is still the predominant filling material in dental practices. Current expert opinion is that, in a clinical setting, amalgam is safe and well tested, with clinical studies revealing no adverse health effects to amalgam fillings. Nevertheless, in line with the Minamata convention, the use of mercury amalgam is being phased down. More significantly, although waste disposal methods have developed considerably, the ultimate environmental fate of dental mercury is not fully delineated; furthermore, the amount of mercury in the environment from historical poor practice is still largely unknown. In this review an overview of how mercury is managed and disposed of in modern dental clinics is provided. Recent best estimates for mercury consumption in dental applications are discussed and compared to total global mercury consumption. The ultimate environmental sinks for the metal are identified and the methods currently employed to process products that are highly deleterious to the environment and human health are described. With a focus on environmentally mobile and highly toxic alkyl mercury compounds, some of the possible environmental implications that could occur with poor waste management are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices towards biomedical waste management among dental post graduate students in Lucknow city- a cross sectional study. Settings and design: A descriptive cross- sectional survey was conducted among the dental students (300 students) in Lucknow city. Materials and method: Total sample size from 5 dental colleges achieved was 300. Knowledge, attitude and practice towards dental waste management was assessed using pretested structured questionnaire containing 28 items. Statistical analysis:Discrete (categorical) data will be summarized in number (n) and percentage (%) and will be compared by Chi-square (χ²) test. A two-tailed p<0.05 will be considered as statistically significant. Analysis will be performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software version 23. Results: Out of 300 participants 30% were males and 70% were females. Majority (93.7%) of dental students were aware of the term biomedical waste and also most of them (97.7%)had a positive attitude regarding decontamination reducing the chances of infection. Conclusion: Though dental students have good knowledge but they were not aware of colour coding in disposing the infectious waste and not practicing appropriate method of handling the dental waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management of hazardous dental radiological waste is very important for the dentist to known and practice correct protocol. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among the dental professionals in Chennai, towards disposal of radiographic hazardous waste. Materials and Methods: One hundred dental practitioners from different part of the city were participated in this study. A set of hundred questions were given to the education qualification divided into 2 groups, those with BDS (UG degree) and MDS (PG degree) and the answers obtained was tabulated and recorded. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all the questions recorded among the education qualification they were divided into 2 groups, those with BDS (UG degree) and MDS (PG degree) in chennai city and chi square test was done to find the association between the questions recorded. Result: Among the participants, they found a positive association between some questionnaire while assessing the experience of practice whereas based on qualification of the participant they was no association between the questionnaire. Conclusions: This study is to bring out sustainable social and behavioural change and to reinforce the moral and professional obligations of the dental surgeon towards human health and environment therefore it is important to collect base-line and follow up data to evaluate the outcome of any awareness programs aimed at promoting good hazardous waste management practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: TVEX‐TOPO, which is a commercial low‐cost macroporous copolymer resin containing 50% (w% Extractant fraction of total adsorbent mass) trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) was used for solid–liquid extraction of tungsten(VI) (W(VI)) and molybdenum(VI) (Mo(VI)) from nitric acid solution. The different parameters affecting the sorption process of both metal ions such as contact time, [HNO3], initial concentrations, V/m ratio and temperature were separately studied. RESULTS: The maximum sorption capacity of TVEX‐ TOPO resin was found to be 17.6 mg g−1 Mo(VI) and 10.7 mg g−1 W(VI) after five sorption stages. Thermodynamic parameters ∆H, ∆G, ∆S were found to be −51.7, −4.3 kJ mol−1 and 157 J mol−1 K−1 for Mo(VI) and −27.4, 1 kJ mol−1 and −93 J mol−1 K−1 for W(VI), respectively. The maximum desorption of W(VI) and Mo(VI) of 97.5% was achieved by reductive stripping with 2% and 4% ascorbic acid, respectively. The highest separation coefficient SMo/W was found to be 13.5 and 10 at V/m = 100 and [HNO3] = 0.1 mol L–1. The W(VI)/TVEX‐TOPO system was found to obey the Langmuir isotherm model with regression factor R2 = 0.999 and qm = 10.5 mg g−1, which is close to the maximum sorption capacity, which equals 10.7 mg g−1. Adsorption kinetics results indicated that the pseudo‐first‐order model is more applicable to W(VI) as qe(exp.) = 4.2 mg g−1 is close to qe(cal.) = 4.3 mg g−1, but Mo(VI) was found to fit with the pseudo‐second order‐model. CONCLUSION: Recovery of Mo(VI) and W(VI) was applied to dental metal filaments waste of (Co‐Cr‐Mo) alloys using TVEX‐TOPO and a flow sheet describing the proposed process was given. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical waste management (BMWM) is vital in facilitating safe providing of healthcare. Developing countries suffer from the impact of mishandled biomedical waste (BMW) on the general public in addition to healthcare practitioners. Thus, this study aims to investigate the awareness and compliance of dental facilities to BMW regulations. Through a questionnaire designed as per the WHO guidelines on BMWM, we randomly recruited a total of 421 dental facilities representative of Jordan's capital. Mean BMWM practice scores were relatively high for the studied sample (0.748 ± 0.12). Nonetheless, while collection, transportation and storage standards were acceptable, those pertaining to segregation and disposal demonstrated lack of compliance to BMWM safety measures. An alarming number of participants dispose of infectious waste (40%), extracted teeth (48.5%), expired pharmaceuticals (44.4%), liquid chemicals (53.2%), X-ray films (35.0%) and solutions (48.7%) in the general trash or draining system. Such is attributed to either lack of resources, lack of proper equipment or poor awareness with BMWM guidelines. Moreover, it appears that location of the clinic ( p  < 0.001), occupation ( p  = 0.026) and presence of regulatory instructions ( p  = 0.048) were associated with higher BMWM scores. Overall, dental practitioners require proper training in terms of handling hazardous dental, chemical and radioactive wastes. Moreover, regulatory bodies should actively enforce regulations and monitoring, update current compliance legislations and subsidize eco-friendly practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Dental wastes are one of the environmental issues due to toxic and pathogenic agents such as pathological wastes, pharmaceutical and chemical etc have particular sensitivity. The aim of this study was to determine the dental waste management and related factors in the city of Ilam. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the studied community was all the sixteen dental clinics in Ilam. Five samples of each clinic per week (Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday) were selected. Thereafter waste sample was manually separated into 36 components and were weighed using a laboratory scale with an accuracy of 0.01 g. Each component was weighed five times and the mean value obtained for each component was considered. Production per capita was calculated for each person. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, SPSS and Excel software. Results: The per capita percent for infectious waste section was 51%. The average of infectious waste is 201.13 g. The per capita percent for chemical, pharmaceutical waste section was 36% with an average of 142.48 g. The per capita percent for toxicity section was 13% in the dental clinics with the weighted average of 48.78 g. According to the results of the checklist, further dental clinics have been poorly managed. Conclusion: According to the presence of various materials and different components with different characteristics in the dental wastes, the optimal management of this type of wastes should be carried out based on the specific characteristics, which include programs to reduce waste production, segregation, recycle and reuse.

Dentistry is a profession dedicated to promote health and wellness of the people. Green dentistry is a relatively new emerging concept in dentistry. Most dental offices are privately-owned small businesses and have no financial advantage to invest in many environmental-friendly practices. For this reason, more research is needed to find cost-effective environmental alternatives in dentistry. The aim of this article is to expand awareness and practice of eco-friendly dentistry.

Waste from healthcare is a significant global issue, with around 85% of it being common waste and the remaining 15% being hazardous waste that is infectious and toxic. Dentistry uses various materials that create a substantial amount of biomedical waste capable of impacting the environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a virtual educational program on the knowledge and awareness of dental material recycling and reuse, as well as biomedical waste management, among dental professionals in Peru. The current study was a longitudinal and quasi-experimental evaluation of 165 dentists from Peru. A validated questionnaire consisting of 30 items was administered at three different intervals (pre-test, immediate post-test, and 14-day post-test). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H tests to compare scores between categories of each sociodemographic variable, and the Cochrane's Q and Friedman test was used for related measures comparison. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. When comparing the percentage of correct responses regarding recycling and reuse of dental materials and biomedical waste management between the pre-test and the immediate post-test, a significant improvement in knowledge was observed for most of the questionnaire items (p < 0.05). At 14 days after the test, those who studied at a private university, unmarried, bachelors, non-specialists, non-teachers and have less than 10 years of professional experience did not did not retain knowledge on biomedical waste management (p < 0.05) or recycling and reusing dental materials (p < 0.05) to a significant extent. There was a significant enhancement in dentists' knowledge and awareness of managing biomedical waste, recycling, and reusing dental materials following the educational intervention. This improvement was observed across all sociodemographic variables considered in the study. However, this knowledge was not retained beyond two weeks for those who studied at a private university, unmarried, bachelor, with no specialty, non-teachers and with less than 10 years of professional experience. Government authorities should encourage oral health professionals to conduct research with educational interventions focused on improving and evaluating the sustainability and environmental impact of dental practices. This will enable professionals to better understand, control and evaluate the consequences of their practical work., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

"The presence of toxic and pathogenic agents in the dental waste products has made it to be classified as ""hazardous waste.""~Background~Background~To assess dental waste production rate and composition and approaches used to manage these waste products in 2017 in Birjand, Iran.~Objective~Objective~48 dental clinics were evaluated in two months of 2017. Sampling was performed from each clinic 3 times a week. Samples were manually divided into 5 categories of chemical-pharmaceutical, infectious, semi-household, sharp and cutting materials, and toxic waste products, and weighed. A checklist containing 25 questions was used to evaluate the aspects of waste management in dental clinics.~Methods~Methods~The total amount of waste products generated in dental clinics was 7848.02 kg/ year in which semi-household waste had the highest quantity (4263.411 kg/year) and toxic waste had the lowest quantity (9.275 kg/year). Components with the highest amounts in dentistry waste products were nylon gloves (16.7%), paper and cardboard (13.4%), latex gloves (10.8%), and pharmaceuticals (10.2%). Waste separation was restricted to sharp and cutting waste. More than half (57%) of dental units were equipped with amalgam filter. Fixing solutions were directly discharged to sewage in 48.6% of clinics. There was no program to reduce waste generation in 54% of the clinics. Autoclave was the main tool for sterilizing dental instruments.~Results~Results~This study showed a remarkable share of recyclable materials in the composition of dental waste and lack of special approach to manage waste in dental clinics. It is necessary to plan for minimizing generation of, separating, and recycling waste at source.~Conclusion~Conclusions" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Dental wastes are one of the environmental issues which are of great importance due to having hazardous, toxic, and pathogenic agents such as infectious, medical, chemical, and toxic wastes. The objective of this study was to determine the quality, quantity, and management of dental wastes in 4 dental clinics in Tehran. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the study area was consisted of 4 dental clinics in west, center, east, and north of Tehran city. Overall, 195 samples were taken. Then, the wastes were manually segmented and divided into 36 parts. In continue they were weighted using a laboratory scale. In order to examine the current state and the implementation process of hazardous dental waste management, we applied a checklist technique which was containing 54 questions. Results: According to the obtained scores, management quality of 3 clinics was proved to be at an average level and only clinic number 4 was perfectly managed. The capita percentage for infectious waste except for clinic 1, which was 50%, was 48% for all clinics. The capita percentage for chemical-pharmaceutical waste except for clinic 1, which was 36%, was 48% for all clinics. The amount of toxic waste for each clinic was 13%. The averages of infectious, toxic and chemical-pharmaceutical wastes were 187.09 ± 9.81, 48.38 ± 1.4, and 147± 4.33 g per capita per day, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the existence of different types of materials with different components and various features in dental wastes, their optimal management must be done based on their specific features which are include plans for generation reduction, segmentation, separation, and recycling of these wastes.

Dental offices produce a variety of dangerous wastes during normal business day. Most of these waste are non-hazardous that can be managed as household wastes; however, some component are hazardous and can pose a risk to human and the environment if discarded to Municipal Solid Wastes. These types of wastes must be managed separately. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the component and production rate of dental waste in Sari city, northern of Iran in 2011-2012. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 64 private dental practices from 146 available dental clinics in Sari city using a checklist and questionnaires which contain 25 questions and items. Dental wastes were weighed to determined qualitative and quantitative analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS and MS-Excel. The results indicated that 77% of produced wastes were non-hazardous. The acceptable level management was observed only in 3.7% offices. The most desirable element management was accurate collecting (30.88%) in these offices. In general, it can be concluded that there is no proper management of wastes in dental centers of Sari. The mercury recycling is required for optimal management of dental waste. Furthermore, the dentists’ education must be takes place to perform the management activities including reduction, separation and recycling inside the office.

As a result of daily activities, besides domestic wastes, many hazardous wastes also come out. These wastes constitute hazards in terms of environment and human health. Taking these potential hazards into account, waste must be disposed of in such a way as not to jeopardize the environment and human health. Looking at the overall hazardous wastes, it appears that dental wastes are a small fraction. Although it is thought to be a trivial part, it is in fact an important waste resource, with poor management, complicated infection risk and even heavy metal output from materials such as amalgam. Therefore waste characterization and composition should be determined to develop appropriate waste management systems. Just as dental residues are found in many countries, management of "medical waste control" is carried out by regulations in Turkey as well. In this study, it was aimed to determine the composition and characterization of dentistry wastes of Samsun city center. For this purpose, wastes of faculty of Dentistry, 2 dental clinics and 2 private dental examinations were taken and studied in two different days. In this study, wastes are classified by type, so that percentage distributions are calculated and quantities are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mercury, as any other heavy metal, may cause environmental damages due to its accumulation and biotransformation. Dental offices, whether private or institutional, use dental amalgam as a restorative material on a daily basis. Dental amalgam is composed of mercury (50%), silver (30%) and other metals. Approximately 30% of the amalgam prepared in dental offices (0.6 g per capsule) are wasted and inadequately discarded without any treatment. Methods for mercury recovery have been proposed previously, using high temperatures through exposure to direct flame (650°C), long processing time, and hazardous reagents as potassium cyanide. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to replace the direct flame by an electrical mantle in the process of mercury recovery. Results showed an average mercury recovery of 90% from 2 kg of amalgam after 30 minutes of processing time, thus optimizing the procedure. The proposed modifications allowed a significant reduction in processing time and a mercury recovery with high purity. The modified process also provided minimization of operator exposure to physical, chemical and ergonomic hazards, representing a technological advance compared to the risks inherent to the original method. It also provided environmental health and economy of energy resources by replacing a finite energy source (fossil and organic) by a more environmentally appropriate electric source, resulting in significant improvement of the procedure for mercury recovery from dental amalgam.