METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATMENT OF MATERIAL

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating dental residual material (1) comprising plastic composite/thermosetting plastic and which comprises acrylate of some kind and which is arranged to be received in a waste container (2) which is to be sealed by means of a lid (3). The method according to the invention comprises the steps of placing the aforementioned residual material (1) in said waste container and allowing it to cure by means of a light-curing apparatus (4) located adjacent said waste container (2) or by means of some other means for providing curing of uncured and/or incompletely cured material (1) which is placed in the container (2). The invention also relates to a device which is suitable for performing the mentioned method. The invention solves besides the earlier mentioned security problems in connection with handling composite also the environmental relations in the subsequent handling of composite material waste so that neither humans, animals nor the rest of the nature are affected.

Description: Method and means for treatment of material The present invention relates to a method for treating dental residual material comprising plastic composite/thermo- setting plastic and which comprises acrylate of some kind and which is arranged to be received in a waste container which is to be sealed by means of a lid. Presently within the dental care, very much plastic material is used for repairing teeth but also in connection with modern ceramics technique when bonding tooth crowns and inserts and removing possible excess of plastic material. This is a serious problem within dental service for the staff that works with such plastic material that is thermosetting i.e. composite/thermosetting plastic because so called composite allergy affects an ever increasing extent of dentists and other staff which comes into contact with said thermosetting plastic. Therefore, strict regulations and rules have been imposed regarding treatment of said plastic material, e.g. the use of gloves, the use of the correct dispersion technique and regarding the evacuation of fumes generated by the plastic material . The risk that patients will be affected by composite allergy caused by plastic in the teeth is considered to be fairly small. The reason for this is explained with that there are small molecules in the plastic material used for repair of teeth and which during curing inside the mouth are transformed into large molecules. Large molecules are not considered to be harmful in this context but it is the small, apparently harmless molecules which may cause the possibly allergic reaction towards the plastic material in question. Therefore, it is especially important that the staff which is exposed to the uncured and/or not sufficiently cured composite which must seek protection, like dentists, dental technicians and dental nurses. Waste often lie in the waste container all day in the treatment rooms of the dentists and during the time spreading dangerous "contamination". Because teeth fixing with amalgam now has been reduced considerably, and in certain cases has been prohibited, alternative materials like composite and which has come to widespread use as direct alternative filling material or as resin based cement for indirectly produced denture constructions . The main object of the present invention is therefore in the first hand to solve the problem for dentists and assisting staff which are exposed for un-polymerized or insufficiently polymerized monomers (acrylate) . This object is achieved by means of a method according to the present invention which is substantially characterized in the steps of placing the aforementioned residual material in said waste container and allowing it to cure by means of a light -curing apparatus located adjacent said waste container or by means of some other means for providing curing of uncured and/or incompletely cured material which is placed in the container. Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is suitable for use in performing a method according to the invention for treating dental residual material comprising plastic composite/thermosetting plastic and which comprises acrylate of some kind and which is arranged to be received in a waste container which is to be sealed by means of a lid. Said further object is achieved by means of a device according to the present invention, which is substantially characterized in that a light-curing device for curing residual material or some other device which is arranged for providing curing of the residual material is located in the vicinity of the container. The invention will be described in the following as a pair of preferred embodiments, wherein is referred to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1 shows a sectional view of a curing box in active position, Fig 2 shows a perspective view of a further example of a waste basket, and Fig 3 finally shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a curing container in function. A method for treating dental residual material 1 comprising plastic composites/thermosetting plastic and which comprises acrylate of some kind and which is arranged to be received in a waste container 2 which is to be sealed by means of a lid 3 in order to try to restrict the harmful monomers and fumes from the residual material 1 in question including the steps of curing the residual material in question. This is achieved more exactly by letting the residual material 1 in question cure, that is placed in said waste container 2, by means of a light -curing apparatus 4 located adjacent the waste container or by means of some other means for providing curing of uncured and/or completely cured material 1 which is placed in the container 2. The aforementioned material 1 is cured inside 5 the waste container 2 by means of an inside the container 2 arranged light-curing lamp 4. Preferably, curing is performed by means of a halogen lamp. The light-curing apparatus is allowed to operate for a certain time af er closing the lid 3. In order to evacuate harmful possible fumes a fan 6 may be allowed to take care of possible fumes 7 in the container 2. Furthermore, is preferably a filter connected to the container 2 for allowing possible harmful fumes and/or substances to be collected from the air which the fan 6 leads out from the container 2. An apparatus 8 which is suitable for use in performing a method according to the present invention for treating dental residual material 1 safely and which comprises plastic composites/thermosetting plastic and which contains acrylate in some form and which emits monomers and fumes and which is arranged to be received in a waste container 2 which is to be sealed by means of a lid, having a curing apparatus 4 or some other apparatus which is arranged for providing curing of the residual material 1 adjacent the container 2. The aforementioned curing apparatus 8 is located in the inner space 5 of the container and is preferably formed by a halogen lamp 4 which is received below the lid 3 or other container roof 9. A timer 10 is connected to control the active curing time of the halogen lamp 4. According to the second embodiment of the invention which is shown in Fig. 2, an inner collection container 11 is received in a protective outer container 2 which is provided with a pivoting mounted lid 3. The inner container 11 is accordingly arranged detachable for convenient removal from the outer container 2 when emptying the contents 1. A fan 6 may as in the first embodiment of the container 2 also be arranged at this further embodiment of container which is shown in Fig 2 and the halogen lamp 4 is connected via a transformer 12 to a power supply. The device shown in Fig 3 is described in accordance with the following: The device 4 converts unhealthy and environment polluting residues 1 of thermosetting plastic to harmless plastic in a few minutes. The process only takes a few minutes and then the waste may be thrown away in the manner of common garbage. The device is an efficient fume cupboard 2 where the noxious vapour is trapped by a filter 20 while the dental thermosetting plastic cures and is equipment which both neutralises uncured dental plastic 1 and cleans the air from gases . Thermosetting plastic waste 1 is dangerous and the number of reported cases of thermosetting plastic allergy increases. Fumes from these dental plastics may affect the eyes, the nose and the respiratory canals. Lengthy exposure can cause injuries to the hands. Uncured thermosetting plastic waste is unhealthy and environment polluting waste since July 1, 1997, according to the Swedish national board of occupational safety and health. It must be sealed and be driven away for destruction. The invention solves this safely and efficiently. The function is clear from the above described and in the drawings shown and thanks to the invention is achieved both a large health effect and environmental effect which helps many people working within this line of business. The invention is not limited to the above described and in the drawings shown embodiments but may be varied within the frame of the claims without departing from the inventive concept.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. A method for treating dental residual material (1) comprising plastic composite/thermosetting plastic and which comprises acrylate of some kind and which is arranged to be received in a waste container (2) which is to be sealed by means of a lid (3) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the steps of placing the aforementioned residual material (1) in said waste container and allowing it to cure by means of a light-curing apparatus (4) located adjacent said waste container (2) or by means of some other means for providing curing of uncured and/or incompletely cured material (1) which is placed in the container (2) . 2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material (1) is cured inside (5) the waste container (2) by means of a light-curing lamp, preferably a halogen lamp (4) arranged inside the container (2) . 3. A method according to any one of claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the light -curing apparatus (4) is allowed to operate during a certain time after closing the lid (3) . 4. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a fan (6) is allowed to take care of possible fumes (7) in the container (2) . 5. A method according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a filter is connected to collect possible noxious fumes and/or matter in the air which the fan (6) lead out from the container (2) . 6. A device (8) for use in performing a method for treating dental residual material (1) comprising plastic composite/thermosetting plastic and which comprises acrylate of some kind and which emit monomers and fumes and which is arranged to be received in a waste container (2) which is to be sealed by means of a lid (3) according to any one of claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a light-curing device (4) for curing residual material or some other device which is arranged for providing curing of the residual material (1) is located in the vicinity of the container (2) . 7. A device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said curing device (4) is located inside (5) the container. 8. A device according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a halogen lamp (4) is received below the lid (3) or other container roof (9) . 9. A device according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a timer (10) is connected to control the active curing time of the halogen lamp (4) . 10. A device according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an inner collection container (11) is received in an outer container (2) which is provided with a pivoting mounted lid (3) which is arranged detachable for removal from the outer container (2) , that a fan (6) is arranged at the container (2) for evacuation of fumes and that the halogen lamp (4) is connected via a transformer (12) .

Inventors: ALBORZI MINA, ALBORZI, MINA
Applicants: ALBORZI MINA, ALBORZI, MINA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61C19
IPC codes: A61C13, A61C19