Risk behavior associated with the manipulation of dental amalgam in Senegal.

Author: Sarr M, Kane AW, Toure B, Faye B, Faye D, Ndoye NN.

Source: Odontostomatol Trop.

Year: 2005

Comment:

This study is in French, but it establishes that 87.38% of dentists throw amalgam in the trash.

Abstract / Excerpt:

“Dental amalgam is a combination of mercury, silver, tin and copper used in the treatment of the dental decays. Amalgam is used in dentistry since many years. Actually a large discussion held according to environmental pollution and risk of intoxication for the patient and the dentist himself. The aim of our survey concerning 103 dentists was to determine the quantity of mercury used in a year, to see the risks linked with the equipment and the manipulation of amalgam and to study the incoming of the trashes of amalgam. Our results showed that among the dentists: 44.66% used 250 to 500 g of mercury by year, 14.56% used their hands for insertion of amalgam in the cavities, 10.68% used their hands for condensation of amalgam in the cavities, 87.38% throw their amalgam on the trash.”

Citation:

Sarr M, Kane AW, Toure B, Faye B, Faye D, Ndoye NN. Risk behavior associated with the manipulation of dental amalgam in Senegal. Odontostomatol Trop. 2005; 28(109):23-27. French.