THERE IS PLENTY OF 'UNTAPPED FRONTIER' IN DENTISTRY-MANAGEMENT OF DENTAL 'E-WASTE'- A REVIEW.

Abstract

E-waste in dentistry is the term for old electronic devices and equipment that dentists throw away. This includes digital radiography units, CAD/CAM milling machines, curing lamps, intraoral cameras, and computer systems.  As more and more dentists use digital tools, more e-waste is being made. This is bad for the environment and health because these gadgets contain dangerous chemicals including mercury, lead, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.  To keep contamination from happening and to encourage resource recovery, dental e-waste must be properly sorted, recycled, and thrown away at accredited facilities.  Also, dental offices can make less e-waste and be more environmentally friendly by following the rules of reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Regulatory frameworks like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) require producers to be in charge of the entire life cycle of their products, which makes it safer to handle e-waste.  Overall, it is very important for dentists to use full e-waste management plans to protect the environment and improve long-term oral health.

Keywords: E-waste, dentistry, digital dental devices, hazardous substances, recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), sustainability, hazardous waste management.