Dental Offices

Dental Offices Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created rules to help reduce mercury from entering our water systems. Dental offices are a main source of mercury because of the use and removal of dental amalgam. To protect public health and the environment, dental offices that place or remove amalgam must:

1. Install, use and maintain an approved amalgam separator
2. Avoid disposing of scrap amalgam down the drain
3. Avoid using line cleaners that are not allowed under federal rules

These requirements are part of the Dental Office Category Rule (40 CFR Part 441).