Consultants’ Comments
- “It clearly did a nice job cleaning out our lines.”
- “Sediment went down by 3 inches.”
- “Sludge was diminished.”
Description
PUREVAC® SC Evacuation System Cleaner is a low/non-foaming evacuation cleaner designed to compact dental waste in a Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator. The product is a clean green liquid containing isopropyl alcohol (7-8%) and propylene glycol (<30%) with a pH of 9.3-9.9 prior to dilution. It has a citrus scent.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the compaction of dental waste when PUREVAC SC Evacuation System Cleaner was used in a Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator.
EVALUATION PROTOCOL
Six offices that were current users of the Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator participated in this study. For five offices, the amalgam separators were at least one-third full with solid wastes on the onset of testing; one office started with a new collection container. PUREVAC SC Evacuation System Cleaner was tested in the selected offices for four weeks. The following information was identified:
- type of evacuation system installed
- number of chairs hooked up to each separator
- name of current line cleanser in use
- date of last cartridge change
On day zero, a ruler was taped to the Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator collection container and at least two photos were taken of the separator collection container describing the appearance of the contents. A fresh solution of the PUREVAC SC Evacuation System Cleaner was prepared daily according to the recommended concentration of one ounce per quart. The directions for use indicated using 2 oz per quart for the first week. The office flushed one quart of the prepared solution in each operatory every working day over the four-week evaluation period. On the last day of the second week of use, at least two photos (a close- up and a full image of the container) were taken of the separator collection container describing the appearance of the contents with the ruler in view. At the end of the fourth week, a third set of photos was taken of the separator collection container with the ruler in view.
The following parameters were documented during the evaluation:
- description of photos (day zero, week two and week four)
- description of the supernatant (liquid in the collection container)
- consistency and size of the particles in the solid portion of the
- waste estimated patient load during the four-week period
Office personnel noted if any excessive foaming was observed.
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Summary
The purpose of the study was to determine the compaction of dental waste when PUREVAC SC Evacuation System Cleaner was used in a Solmetex Separator. Over a four-week period, six dental offices with a Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator cleaned daily with PUREVAC SC Evacuation System Cleaner as directed on the label. The content of the Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator collection container were evaluated at day zero, end of week two, and end of week four. The supernatant liquid collected was generally dark brown with particles varying from 5 to 25 mm in diameter at day zero. At the end of four weeks, four of the six offices reported a lighter color and/or a decrease in the sediment in the collection container at the end of week four. In those four offices it appears the use of PUREVAC SC Evacuation System Cleaner has a positive effect on the color and level of sediment in the collection container. In one office in which no changes were observed, the Solmetex Hg5 Amalgam Separator collection container was completely full at the beginning of the study.
