Knowledge and Attitude of Dentists towards the Use and Safety of Amalgam, Observance of Mercury Hygiene and Amalgam Waste Management
Abstract
Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of dentists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad towards the use and
safety of amalgam, observance of mercury hygiene and amalgam waste management.
Study Design: Cross Sectional survey.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Operative Dentistry Department of AFID
st th Rawalpindi, from 1 March to 31 April 2021.
Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was circulated among 384 private and public hospital dentists
of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Final questionnaire consisted of close ended questions related to demographic
details, questions regarding the handling and disposal of amalgam and perception of dentists regarding
mercury hygiene. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and evaluated as frequencies, percentages, mean
and standard deviation. Chi-square test was used to correlate demographic to the responses of the participants
to the items of the questionnaire.
Results: Majority of the dentists were doing 5-10 amalgam restorations per week (34.6%) but they didn't place
rubber dam while restoring tooth with amalgam (95.7%). Most of the dentists take no specific measures for
storing leftover amalgam (65.4%) and do not periodically monitor mercury vapor (91.5%).
Conclusion: The majority of dentists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are not following dental mercury hygiene
recommendations as there is a significant lack of knowledge regarding mercury hygiene and amalgam waste
disposal.
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