Impacto da contaminação do mercúrio proveniente do amálgama dentário na saúde e no meio ambiente

Abstract

The times are different and the function of the Dentist is no longer limited to technical resolutions of problems in the oral cavity. Currently, it requires the professional to be attentive to all social and environmental issues, becoming co-responsible for acting in the search for practices that can collaborate with sustainable development. The professional has to incorporate the role of educator and treat oral health by assimilating new concepts such as sustainability and social responsibility. It is necessary, then, to minimize or eliminate the impacts arising from their production process, dental services generate waste that, by their nature, presents potential risk to public health and the environment, and therefore deserve special attention and control. One of the dental materials most harmful to the environment and human health is dental amalgam, due to the high mercury content present in its composition. Thus, the present research has proposed an analysis on the theme of Dental Amalgam, specifically the investigation on what its impacts on health and the environment caused by the various mercury emission routes that can be understood through the Problematization Methodology (M.P.) with the Maguerez Arc (which consists of five stages: observation of reality and definition of the problem, key points, theorization, hypotheses of solution and application to reality). Exploratory-descriptive research was used through the literature dealing with dental amalgam and the Problematization Methodology. The research allowed the creation of a sustainable clinical protocol and an educational booklet as products, with the objective of contributing to an expanded educational education for dental class, besides preparing them for an action of transformation of the clinical reality of which they are part. Focusing not only on direct contamination in health, but also on the environmental impacts caused by mercury from the Dental Amalgam and what measures to minimize these impacts, so that you get a more sustainable dentistry.