Resumo

LIMA NETO, João Ferreira; PINHEIRO, Filomena Maria da Costa; NOBREGA-THERRIEN, Sílvia Maria  e  PINHEIRO, Virgínia Costa. Solid waste management in private dental practices. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2012, vol.60, n.1, pp. 33-39. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective To check the management of solid waste in dental practices that generates risks to health and the environment. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to ascertain the management of solid waste in private dental practices in the municipality of Quixadá, Ceará, Brazil in 2009. More specifically it was to ascertain its management, segregation, packing, collection, storage and final discording. Methods This is a descriptive, exploratory and quantitative study. Out of a total of 15 dental practices in the municipality, 11 (73.3%) were included in the study. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire applied to dentists in August 2009. Results It was found that 81.8% of establishments do not have a Health Service Waste Management Plan. Nevertheless, 90.9% of professionals perform waste segregation, 45.5% of the dentists perform the packing of biological waste in plastic bags, 63.7% pack amalgam waste in glass with water, 60% dispose of developers and fixers directly into the sewerage system and for the sharps, 60% use cardboard boxes. Most dentists dispose of garbage on the sidewalk and the public collection is made by a truck, there being no separate collection service, and they were transported to the landfill, where they do not receive the appropriate treatment. Conclusion The lack of a Health Service Waste Management Plan leads to many failures and the involvement of the public authorities is essential in order to prevent harm to health and the environment.

Palavras-chave : Dental waste; Solid waste; Waste management.