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Holistic Dentistry And The Environment

holistic dentistry and environment
Published By Dr. Rachel Hall at 1 August, 2012

Holistic Dentistry Brisbane Protecting The Environment

What does a holistic dentist do to care for the environment? How do holistic dentistry and the environment go hand in hand?

We are pleased to announce that we now have a new amalgam separator fitted by CMA Ecocycle at our holistic dentist practice in Kenmore.

This means that we now capture 99.99% of our amalgam waste instead of it going into the water supply. Without an amalgam separator, the sludge and fine particles from drilled out amalgam go into the suction the out into the water supply polluting it with silver, tin, copper and MERCURY. Our practice is not only mercury free (as in we do not use amalgam) but we are also mercury SAFE.


Why Amalgam Retention is important for dental surgeries

As a holistic dentist we have a duty of care to protect our patients from mercury exposure and this applies to the environment also.

The mercury contained in one amalgam tooth filling is enough to pollute 30,000 litres of water beyond a safe level of drinking

Recent Studies show that average dental surgery produces about 1 to 1.3 kg of amalgam waste per year.

If the chair is not fitted with an amalgam separator, all amalgam waste is discharged into the wastewater, generating more than 13,000 kg /PA of Mercury Amalgam pollution in Trade Waste Water, Australia wide.

The potential high amount of mercury contained in dental waste from dental surgeries is now being recognised as a serious environmental threat by local Authorities and Water Boards.

ISO standard 11143 requires a minimum 95% amalgam waste being retained and correctly disposed of by the dental surgery.

In addition, the 1999 NHMRC National Guidelines for Waste Management states that Dental Practitioners must install amalgam separators, capable of 95% separation


Are dentists doing their part to protect the environment?

Without an amalgam separator, the amalgam is going direct into sewers and forever pollutes our sewerage system, biosolids and waterways.

But thankfully now some proactive, responsible dentists (like us) are leading the way by installing ISO 11143 permitted separators.

But legislation or an industry code of conduct will not be far-off. We must have the best possible ways to handle the waste and mercury to save our environment from their impacts.


  • Dr. Rachel Hall

    Dr. Rachel Hall

    Rachel is the founder and principal dentist at Evolve Dental Healing with over 30 years experience, practising holistically since 2001. Not your typical dentist, Rachel is a passionate opinion leader, challenging convention to empower people to make better dental and health choices, helping thousands to have healthy natural smiles. A respected writer and presenter on holistic dentistry, health and wellness it is Rachel’s mission to revolutionise the way people look at their dental health.

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