Environmental aspects of dental filling materials.

In recent years, the possible environmental impact caused by certain routines in dental practice has attracted attention among regulators. As part of point source reduction strategies, the discharge of mercury/amalgam-contaminated wastes has been regulated in a number of countries, even though it has been documented that by adopting appropriate mercury hygiene measures, including installation of amalgam-separating devices, the environmental impact of amalgam use in dentistry is minimal. There are, so far, no data indicating the environmental impact of methacrylate-based dental filling materials.