GAP Australasian Dentist Sept Oct 2020

Category 100 Australasian Dentist D ental scrap includes caps, crowns, bridges, and PFMs that are collected after an extraction. While practices may be used to recycling materials like X-ray film and amalgam, this material is entirely different and should be set aside to be recycled with a precious-metal refinery. Unlike other dental waste products, dental scrap regularly contains precious metals like gold, silver, and the lesser- known, palladium. Even in very minor quantities, these metals can be sold for hundreds of dollars for just a few grams. Whenyousenddentalscraptoarefinery the scrap is melted down and goes through several steps of analysis to determine the material’s exact composition. Once the refinery determines the composition, it should pay you for the scrap itself. Additionally, the materials found in dental scrap can be toxic, and should not be thrown in the rubbish. Materials like silver and mercury can seep into the ground and pollute freshwater sources and destroy ecosystems. Many countries already regulate recycling dental metals for this very reason. 1 The hidden environmental benefits of recycling In addition to keeping these metals out of landfills, dental scrap refining also has ad- ditional, hidden environmental benefits. Recycling dental scrap & dental metals: What dentists need to know By Abby Stevens, Director of Joint Ventures, Garfield Refining The toll that precious metals mining has on the environment can be significant, and recycling these materials to be reused in other applications reduces the need to mine it from the earth. 2 Indeed, it’s quite interesting to realize that a dental cap or crown may be used later to manufacture a piece of jewellery or a computer chip component! Additionally, established precious metal refineries, like Garfield Refining, have eco-friendly facilities that filter out the toxins generated from the refining process. That way you know as a dentist, you’re doing the best you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. What makes a good refinery? Good refineries will give you reports on your scrap metals and payment for those metals in a timely fashion. They will also provide free shipping, storage containers and service for your dental scrap. When viable, they can also arrange to meet in person to personally pick up your dental metals from your surgery. Garfield Refining is a United States- based precious-metal refinery that was originally established in 1892. Over the past century, they’ve worked with a variety of industries, including thousands of dental practices, group practices, and dental labs. Voted best “Dental Scrap Refiner” in North America by leading dental professionals, Garfield Refining has an established reputation among licensed dentists across the world. Nearly a decade ago, Garfield Refining extended their services to dental professionals in Australia, and employed representatives across the country to service dentists. Their extensive history in extracting the gold, silver, and palladium found in dental scrap enables them to create precise valuations and payments for dentists. u Sources: 1. https://www.epa.gov/eg/ dental-effluent-guidelines 2. https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore. ashx?id=fffd2d09-3560-4ee7-bfc3- dc193d0f2f41&subId=515687 company profile