FAQs for Virginia Dental Offices to be Compliant with the Dental Rule I The explanation for why the rule was developed can be found here: . The rule is designed to prevent amalgam, which contains mercury, from entering the water that goes to a wastewater treatment plant. 2. The requirement to have an amalgam separator by the dental rule does not apply to dental offices where the practice of dentistry consists exclusively of one or more of the following dental specialties: oral pathology oral and maxillofacial radiology oral and maxillofacial surgery orthodontics periodontics prosthodontics *dental offices that discharge to a septic system *discharges to publicly owned treatment works from mobile units Note that while the dental rule does not apply to dentists who discharge to a septic system and dentists that * operate out of mobile dental clinics from being required to have amalgam separators, the waste from these two practices must ultimately be discharged to a wastewater treatment plant for treatment. The wastewater treatment plant may have its own restrictions on waste that it will accept, and it might not take dental wastewater that could contain amalgam. It is recommended that the wastewater treatment plant be contacted to see if there are restrictions. If so, installing an amalgam separator would resolve the issue. The rule applies to: offices where the practice of dentistry is performed, including large institutions such as dental schools and clinics, and permanent or temporary offices home offices facilities, including dental offices owned and operated by federal, state or local governments including military bases that discharge to a POTW. 3. I
FAQs for Virginia Dental Offices to be Compliant with the Dental Rule I The explanation for why the rule was developed can be found here: . The rule is designed to prevent amalgam, which contains mercury, from entering the water that goes to a wastewater treatment plant. 2. The requirement to have an amalgam separator by the dental rule does not apply to dental offices where the practice of dentistry consists exclusively of one or more of the following dental specialties: oral pathology oral and maxillofacial radiology oral and maxillofacial surgery orthodontics periodontics prosthodontics *dental offices that discharge to a septic system *discharges to publicly owned treatment works from mobile units * Note that while the dental rule does not apply to dentists who discharge to a septic system and dentists that operate out of mobile dental clinics from being required to have amalgam separators, the waste from these two practices must ultimately be discharged to a wastewater treatment plant for treatment. The wastewater treatment plant may have its own restrictions on waste that it will accept, and it might not take dental wastewater that could contain amalgam. It is recommended that the wastewater treatment plant be contacted to see if there are restrictions. If so, installing an amalgam separator would resolve the issue. The rule applies to: offices where the practice of dentistry is performed, including large institutions such as dental schools and clinics, and permanent or temporary offices home offices facilities, including dental offices owned and operated by federal, state or local governments including military bases that discharge to a POTW. 3. I
FAQforDentistsMarch2018.docx