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Dental Use of Mercury 

Sections 22a-616(d) and 22a-622 of the Connecticut General Sta

(CGS)

This fact sheet is intended for dental practitioners and their associates, 

vocational dental education or training school professors and students. 

In accordance with Sections 22a-616 and 22a-622 of the Connecticut Gen

Statutes, dental practitioners and dental schools are required to store, us

otherwise handle mercury amalgam in accordance with state and federal

and any best management practices (BMPs) adopted by the State. On Ja

11, 2006, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopted a r

version of the mercury amalgam BMP's originally adopted on October 23,

DEP has also developed a Certification Form on which dental practitioners

certify that their practice(s) or clinic(s) is in compliance with the state ado

BMPs. In addition to the amalgam BMPs, other general office best manag

practices are found in The Environmentally Responsible Dental Office: A G

to Proper Waste Management in Connecticut Dental Offices. Access to an

electronic version of the Certification Form, BMPs and Guide is available o

DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep. 

Requirements for Vocational Dental Education or Training Schools

Vocational dental education or training school professors and students, on

after July 1, 2003, are prohibited from using mercury amalgam unless su

school has developed and implemented a plan, approved by the commiss

that assures best management practices are used that are consistent with

state-adopted BMPs, guidelines of the American Dental Association, and s

and federal law. Such plan shall address the following criteria: 

z Educational training program for the proper management of mercur

including but not limited to the handling, recycling and disposal of w

elemental mercury and mercury amalgam, and the hazards associa

with mercury; 

z Identification of the vendor that manages the mercury waste; 

z Procedures for staff and students in managing mercury; 

z Installation of an amalgam separator; 

z Prevention of mercury discharges into the waters of the state, any 

pollution abatement facility, or subsurface sewage disposal system.

The plan shall be submitted to the DEP at the following address: 

Mercury Program/Tom Metzner 

Department of Environmental Protection 

DEP: Dental Use of Mercury Page 1 of 2

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2708&q=323994&depNav_GID=1638 10/5/2007
79 Elm Street, 4th floor

Hartford, CT 06106-5127 

Requirements for Dental Practitioners

Dental practitioners, after July 1, 2003, are required to: 

z Use the mercury only for dental purposes; 

z Store, use, or otherwise handle exposure to such mercury amalgam

accordance with the accepted guidelines of the American Dental 

Association, and state and federal law, and comply with the state-a

BMPs; 

z Certify that they are in compliance with these BMPs by completing a

signing the Initial Certification Form for Licensed Dentists (PDF Vers

Word Version) 

z Dispose of waste in accordance with state and federal law. 

Material Safety Data Sheet

The law requires that the purchaser or recipient of elemental mercury be

provided a Material Safety Data Sheet as defined in 42 USC 110349. 

Contact Information and Assistance

Related Fact Sheets and Other Information: 

Fillings Brochure: The Choices You Have; Mercury Amalgam and Other Fil

Materials

Universal Waste Rule Fact Sheet

Mercury Definitions

 

All environmental fact sheets are designed to provide basic information a

answer general questions. You must refer to the appropriate Connecticut

General Statutes for the specific definitions and statutory requirements. 

Content Last Updated on December 18, 2006

Fact Sheets List 

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