Evaluation of dental waste management in the Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Management of dental waste was investigated in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. A comprehensive survey was conducted for 49 of the 52 dental clinics available in the Emirate of Ajman to assess the current situation. The focus was placed on hazardous waste produced by dental clinics and the handling, storage, disposal measures taken. Dentists were interviewed regarding their disposal of different dental waste. All the clinics segregated infectious waste from the main waste stream. Most of the segregation (75.5%) took place inside the clinics; Non contact amalgam was placed in trash in 47% of the clinics. Used fixer and developer poured down the drain by 93.9% of the clinics. About 83.7% of the clinics disposed the used X-ray films into regular waste. The findings revealed that there is no proper separation of dental waste. Further research should be conducted, and construction of a training program constructed for the dentists and personnel who are in charge of waste management.