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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · European Journal of General Dentistry 2013; 2(03): 235-240
DOI: 10.4103/2278-9626.115992
Review Article

A simplified model for biomedical waste management in dental practices - A pilot project at Thane, India

Om N. Baghele
Department of Periodontology and Public Health Dentistry, SMBT Dental College and Hospital, Sangamner, Maharashtra, India
,
Subodh Phadke
1   Officials, Indian Dental Association, Maharashtra State Branch, India
2   Private Dental Practice, Thane, Maharashtra, India
,
Ashish A. Deshpande
1   Officials, Indian Dental Association, Maharashtra State Branch, India
2   Private Dental Practice, Thane, Maharashtra, India
,
Jayant P. Deshpande
1   Officials, Indian Dental Association, Maharashtra State Branch, India
2   Private Dental Practice, Thane, Maharashtra, India
,
Mangala O. Baghele
2   Private Dental Practice, Thane, Maharashtra, India
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Abstract

A lot of biomedical waste (BMW) is generated in dental practices, which can be hazardous to the environment as well as to those who come in contact with the materials, if not dealt with appropriately. Most of the rules world-wide are not specific for dental BMW management and hinder easy understanding by dental practitioners. Because of lack of clear-cut guidelines either from Dental Council of India or Government of India or Indian Dental Association (IDA) on disposal of dental wastes, this article is designed to explore and review on these issues and formulate a simplified scheme. The guidelines by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board from the directives of The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India through BMW (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, (BMW-MH-98), similar guidelines being followed elsewhere in the world, the local BMW disposal company’s rules and the IDA’s Clinic Standardization Program guidelines. We developed and implemented a simplified waste segregation protocol for practicing dentists and dental hospitals. A methodological dental waste segregation protocol was required considering its disposal and ill-effects on health and the environment. The simplified scheme provided a good model to be followed in developing countries like India. The scheme improved understanding among dentists because of its self-explanatory nature.

Keywords

Biomedical waste - dental waste - new model - waste management


Publication History

Article published online:
01 November 2021

© 2013. European Journal of General Dentistry. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)

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