Safe Handling and Disposal of Extracted Teeth: Regulatory Guidelines and Best Practices

Best Practices for Handling Extracted Teeth

Extracted teeth are considered regulated medical waste due to the potential risk of transmitting bloodborne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis B virus. Proper handling ensures patient safety and minimizes occupational exposure risks.

Handling Extracted Teeth:

1. Disposal Guidelines: Dental health care personnel must dispose of extracted teeth in regulated medical waste contners, as per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

2. Patient Reclmation: If requested by a patient, returned extracted teeth are no longer considered biohazardous and thus do not require adherence to OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard regulations.

Special Handling for Teeth Contning Amalgam:

1. Avoid Incineration: Do not dispose of amalgam-contning teeth in medical waste contners that use incineration for final disposal e.g., general garbage, sharps contners, biohazard bags.

2. Consult Local Regulations: Review state and local guidelines regarding the proper disposal or recycling of amalgam-contning teeth.

Educational Settings:

1. Preclinical Educational Trning:

   • Clean Teeth: Clean extracted teeth to visible blood or debris.

   • Moist Storage: Store in a moist environment using a simple solution like water or saline, in an rtight contner equipped with a secure lid to prevent leaks during transport and storage. Label the contner with biohazard symbols until sterilization.

2. Sterilization for Safety:

   • Prefer teeth without amalgam over those contning it because they can undergo autoclaving safely.

   • Heat-sterilize teeth in educational settings that contn amalgam, as immersion in a 10 formalin solution for two weeks is also an effective disinfection method.

Formalin Disinfection:

Always review the manufacturer's safety data sheet when using formalin due to its carcinogenic nature and with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. Consult occupational health professionals for advice on managing exposure risks related to formaldehyde.

Sources

• Environmental Protection Agency EPA guidelines on medical waste management

• CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings2003

• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard regulations
  This article is reproduced from: https://www.cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/dental-ipc-faqs/extracted-teeth.html

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