Dental Waste Management Flashcards
6 cards from real DANB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Dental Waste Management flashcards as text
According to OSHA, what color must sharps disposal containers be in a dental office?
Answer: Red or orange-red
OSHA requires sharps containers to be closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof, and color-coded red or orange-red for easy identification.
Which dental material is classified as hazardous waste requiring special disposal under EPA regulations?
Answer: Scrap amalgam and amalgam capsules
Scrap amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury by weight, classified as hazardous waste under EPA regulations requiring special handling and disposal through licensed carriers.
What is the proper classification of used anesthetic needles and scalpel blades?
Answer: Regulated medical waste (sharps)
Used needles and scalpel blades are regulated medical waste in the sharps category because they can penetrate skin and transmit bloodborne pathogens.
Which type of dental waste can generally be disposed of as regular solid waste?
Answer: Lightly contaminated gloves and patient bibs
Items with minimal blood contamination that would not release blood if compressed are generally classified as non-regulated solid waste.
What is the EPA-required minimum efficiency rating for dental amalgam separators?
Answer: 95%
The EPA's 2017 Dental Amalgam Rule requires ISO 11143-compliant amalgam separators achieving at least 95% removal efficiency.
How should extracted teeth containing amalgam restorations be handled?
Answer: Collected as amalgam/hazardous waste for recycling
Teeth with amalgam must be treated as amalgam waste because burning would release toxic mercury vapor. They should be collected and sent for amalgam recycling.