Handling dental waste, such as needles, leftover medications, amalgam, and chemicals, can be confusing. PureWay helps dental offices stay safe and compliant with simple solutions, including mail back kits, pickup services, safe containers, and staff training. This guide explains how dental practices can manage all types of waste efficiently while keeping their team, patients, and the environment protected.
How PureWay Helps Dental Practices Stay Compliant
PureWay makes it simple with easy-to-use mail-back kits, pickup services, safe containers, and online training. This guide explains how dental practices can handle medical waste, pharmaceuticals, amalgam, and other hazardous materials while staying compliant with OSHA, EPA, DEA, and state regulations.
Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) in Dentistry
RMW in dental offices includes materials that may be contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious substances. Proper handling and disposal are critical to keep your staff, patients, and community safe, and to comply with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and state regulations.
Regulated Medical Waste in Dental Offices:
Sharps
Things that can poke or cut, like needles, small anesthetic cartridges, dental blades, or tiny files used in root canals.Blood-soaked gauze or surgical cloths
Any cloth, gauze, or drape that has blood on it from dental procedures.Extracted teeth with blood
Teeth that have been pulled out and still have blood on them.Suction traps or tubing with OPIM
The dental suction equipment that collects saliva, blood, or other potentially infectious fluids.
Key Regulatory Bodies:
OSHA
Sets rules to keep staff safe from blood and other infectious materials.EPA and DOT
Make sure medical waste is packaged and transported safely to protect people and the environment.State Environmental and Health Departments
Local authorities that enforce rules for handling and disposing of medical waste.
How PureWay Helps:
Sharps Mail-Back Systems
DOT-authorized for USPS under UN3291 – Prepaid, pre-labeled containers – Easy for general and specialty dental offices.Pickup Services
For higher-volume offices or DSOs with multiple locations.Sharps & RMW Containers
OSHA-compliant, puncture-resistant containers.Staff Training & Exposure Control Plans
Meets OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard requirements – Online training with certification tracking.
Pharmaceutical Waste in Dental Practices
Dental offices generate pharmaceutical waste when medicines expire or are no longer needed. This includes local anesthetics, sedatives, antibiotics, pain relievers, and certain topical agents. Proper disposal is important to prevent accidental exposure, misuse, and environmental harm, while staying compliant with DEA, EPA, and state regulations.Examples of Dental Pharmaceutical Waste:
Expired local anesthetics
Numbing medicines that are past their use-by date.Unused sedatives or controlled drugs
Medicines like anti-anxiety drugs that were never used.Antibiotics or painkillers
Regular medicines for infections or pain that are no longer needed.Topical agents with chemicals.
Gels creams.
Varnishes like fluoride treatments that contain potentially harmful chemicals.
Key Regulatory Bodies:
DEA Controlled substances
The government agency that regulates strong or addictive medicines, like certain sedatives, to make sure they are stored, used, and disposed of safely.EPA Hazardous waste
The agency that sets rules for safely handling and disposing of chemicals or medicines that could harm people or the environment.State pharmacy boards and dental boards
Local authorities that make sure dental offices follow the rules for storing, using, and disposing of medicines safely.
How PureWay Helps:
Pharmaceutical Waste Mail-Back Systems
Send back expired or leftover medicines that aren’t controlled drugs safely by mail.Hazardous Pharmaceutical Disposal
Pick up and properly handle medicines that are considered hazardous to people or the environment.DEA-Compliant Controlled Substance Destruction
Safely get rid of strong or addictive drugs using on-site kits or secure drop boxes that meet federal rules.
Amalgam Waste and Other Hazardous Waste
Hazardous dental waste includes amalgam, X-ray chemicals, and disinfectants. Managing these materials correctly protects people and the environment while meeting federal, state, and local regulations.Amalgam and Chemical Waste in Dentistry:
Used or scrap amalgam.
Amalgam traps and separator filters.
X-ray fixer, developer, and lead foils.
Disinfectants, solvents, and chemical sterilants.
Regulatory Requirements:
EPA Dental Amalgam Rule (40 CFR Part 441)
Dental offices must use special filters to catch mercury from amalgam and dispose of it safely.RCRA Hazardous Waste Rules
Federal rules for handling and disposing of chemicals that could be harmful.State and Local Rules
Your state or city may have additional requirements for safely managing mercury and other dental chemicals.
How PureWay Helps:
Amalgam Waste Mail-Back Systems
Includes chairside traps, separator filters, contact amalgam, fully compliant with EPA’s dental amalgam rule.X-Ray Chemical Disposal
Mail-back or pickup options for fixer and developer.
Universal Waste Programs
For batteries, bulbs, electronics, and lead waste.
OSHA and Staff Safety Training
Keeping dental staff safe is a top priority. OSHA requires dental teams to complete training on bloodborne pathogens, chemical hazards, and proper use of sharps and protective gear. PureWay helps practices meet these requirements with easy online training, certification tracking, and ready-to-use safety documents.Required OSHA Training for Dental Teams:
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
Hazard Communication (HazCom)
Sharps safety and PPE protocols
PureWay Compliance Training Services:
Online Training for All Staff
Easy courses everyone can complete from a computer.Certification Management Dashboard
Keep track of who has completed training and their certificates.OSHA-Ready Documents
Ready-to-use safety plans, posters, and forms to meet OSHA requirements.
Note:
For more information and resources, these links provide easy access to products, disposal options, training materials, and guidance to help dental offices manage waste safely and stay compliant with regulations.
PureWay Product Categories for Dental Facilities
PureWay offers a range of products and services to help dental offices manage all types of waste safely and stay compliant. From sharps and medical waste to pharmaceuticals, amalgam, X-ray chemicals, and universal waste, these solutions make disposal easy, safe, and fully compliant with regulations. Stated below the categories of dental facilities.
Category:
Sharps Disposal
Mail-back kits, countertop containers.
Medical Waste Disposal
Red bag systems, DOT-compliant bulk containers.
Pharmaceutical Waste
Expired medication mail-back kits.
Controlled Substances
DEA-compliant drug destruction kits and kiosks.
OSHA Compliance Training
BBP, HazCom, exposure plan tools.
Amalgam and X-Ray Waste
Amalgam trap kits, separator filters, fixer mail-back.
Universal Waste
Battery, bulb, and e-waste return kits.
State-Specific Dental Waste Regulations
Dental waste rules can vary from state to state. This includes how much waste you can store, the types of sharps containers allowed, how to dispose of amalgam, and how to handle controlled drugs. Knowing your state’s requirements helps your office stay safe and fully compliant.
Dental offices must comply with state-specific rules that can differ in:
Waste storage limits
Sharps container types
Amalgam disposal methods
Controlled drug disposal
Explore Your State’s Dental Waste Rules with PureWay’s Interactive Map.
Getting Started with PureWay
No matter the size of your practice, from solo dentists to large dental service organizations (DSOs), PureWay makes managing dental waste simple. Our cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions help you stay compliant across every waste stream so you can focus on patient care.
Ready to make dental waste management easier? Use the links below to get a quote or browse PureWay’s full range of dental waste solutions.
Useful Links:
Note:
The information in this guide is for general educational purposes only.
Regulatory requirements for waste disposal vary by state and locality.
Dental facilities must consult with appropriate state, local, and federal agencies to ensure full compliance.
This guide is not legal advice and does not guarantee regulatory compliance.
PureWay Compliance, Inc. is not responsible for actions taken based on the information provided herein.