Dental Use of Mercury
Sections 22a-616(d) and 22a-622 of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS)
This fact sheet is intended for dental practitioners and their associates, vocational dental education or training school professors and students.
In accordance with Sections 22a-616 and 22a-622 of the Connecticut General Statutes, dental practitioners and dental schools are required to store, use and otherwise handle mercury amalgam in accordance with state and federal law and any best management practices (BMPs) adopted by the State. On January 11, 2006, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) adopted a revised version of the mercury amalgam BMPs originally adopted on October 23, 2003. DEEP has also developed a Certification Form on which dental practitioners certify that their practice(s) or clinic(s) is in compliance with the state adopted BMPs. Access to an electronic version of the Certification Form, and BMPs is available on the DEEP website.
Requirements for Vocational Dental Education or Training Schools
Vocational dental education or training school professors and students, on or after July 1, 2003, are prohibited from using mercury amalgam unless such school has developed and implemented a plan, approved by the commissioner, that assures best management practices are used that are consistent with the state-adopted BMPs, guidelines of the American Dental Association, and state and federal law. Such plan shall address the following criteria:
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Educational training program for the proper management of mercury, including but not limited to the handling, recycling and disposal of waste elemental mercury and mercury amalgam, and the hazards associated with mercury;
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Identification of the vendor that manages the mercury waste;
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Procedures for staff and students in managing mercury;
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Installation of an amalgam separator;
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Prevention of mercury discharges into the waters of the state, any pollution abatement facility, or subsurface sewage disposal system.
The plan shall be submitted to the DEEP at the following address:
Mercury Program/Tom Metzner
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street, 4th floor
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Requirements for Dental Practitioners
Dental practitioners, after July 1, 2003, are required to:
- Use the mercury only for dental purposes;
- Store, use, or otherwise handle exposure to such mercury amalgam in accordance with the accepted guidelines of the American Dental Association, and state and federal law, and comply with the state-adopted BMPs;
- Certify that they are in compliance with these BMPs by completing and signing the Initial Certification Form for Licensed Dentists (PDF Version, Word Version)
- Dispose of waste in accordance with state and federal law.
Material Safety Data Sheet
The law requires that the purchaser or recipient of elemental mercury be provided a Material Safety Data Sheet as defined in 42 USC 110349.
Contact Information and Assistance
Related Fact Sheets and Other Information:
Fillings: The Choices You Have, Mercury Amalgam and Other Filling Materials
Universal Waste Rule Fact Sheet
Mercury Definitions
All environmental fact sheets are designed to provide basic information and to answer general questions. You must refer to the appropriate Connecticut General Statutes for the specific definitions and statutory requirements.
Content Last Updated November 2024