Dental Waste Disposal

We offer a full-service approach that fits today's dental office waste needs.

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1. Sharps Disposal (Dental)

   • Sharps containers must be appropriately labeled

   • Puncture resistant and leak-proof

   • Should be visible and easily reachable by the person using the sharps, and not placed in high-traffic areas, under sinks, inside cabinets or near light switches.

   • Download our Sharps Management for more details                                                                                                

2. Blood-Soaked Gauze (Biohazard)

   • Main Trap Filter

   • Proper disposal steps include packaging it in a leak-resistant, puncture-resistant red disposable plastic bag with a universal biohazard symbol.                                                                                                                       

3. X-Ray Fixer (Silver)

   • Used x-ray filter solution contains a high amount of silver, and is therefore considered a hazardous waste, requiring it to be handled by a hazardous waste management company.

   • Used x-ray fixer must never be flushed down the drain.

   • X-ray developer that is mixed with used fixer solution must also be disposed of through a dental waste disposal company.

   • Unused developer contains a toxic substance called hydroquinone, which cannot be flushed down the drain. Both unused and used developer should also never be disposed of into septic systems.                      

4. Amalgam Waste (Mercury)

   • Chairside traps and filters used in vacuum systems must be properly disposed of.

   • Both disposable and reusable amalgam traps, amalgam separators, vacuum pump filters and other sources of mercury (such as relays, switches, thermostats and mercury thermometers) must be disposed of through a hazardous waste hauler like Medasend.                                                                                               

5. Pharmaceutical Disposal (Dental Anesthetic Carpules)

   • If the carpules contain residual anesthetic in all states except Minnesota, they should be disposed of in a container properly labeled for transport as pharmaceutical waste to a medical waste incinerator. Why not place them into your regular medical waste container? Medical waste is treated by autoclave; since autoclave treatment does not breakdown pharmaceutical waste, incineration is required.

   • Carpules that contain visible blood are classified as sharps medical waste and must be placed in a sharps container for proper disposal.

   • Empty, unbroken carpules that contain no remaining anesthetic or aspirated blood cannot be placed in the trash for general waste disposal. Unbroken carpules go into a sharps container due to the fact that carpules could break.

   • If carpules are broken but contain no blood or anesthetic, they are classified as medical waste, and offices must discard them into the sharps container for employee and waste-worker safety.                          

6. Dental Waste Storage Time

   • Each waste stream has its own requirements. 

   • Download San Diego County's Dental Waste Management PDF