A Study on the Knowledge and Awareness among Dental Students of Mercury Toxicity and Amalgam Disposal Niang Chen Min1, Kamath Rajesh2,*, Pati Ashalata3, Sharma Amrita4, D'Souza Bryal5, Bhat Sneha R.6, Kamath Sagarika7 1Final Year Postgraduate Trainee, Master in Hospital Administration Program 2Assistant Professor, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka 3Senior Consultant CH-MoHFW, Government of India 4Post graduate Trainee-MHA, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 5Assistant Professor, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka 6Lecturer, Department of Periodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka 7Assistant Professor, School of Management, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka *Corresponding author: Dr. Rajesh Kamath, Assistant Professor, Room no.12, Second Floor, Old Tapmi building, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka-576104, E mail: Rajeshkamath82@gmail.com Mobile: +91 7760218342
Online published on 7 May, 2019. Abstract Dental amalgam consists of 50% mercury. An average amalgam filling consists of 1 gram of mercury which continously leaks mercury vapour due to the low vapour pressure of mercury. Mercury vapour can spread rapidly throughout the human body. It crosses cell membranes easily. Mercury can penetrate the blood brain barrier and result in mercury accumulation in the brain. Mercury is among the top three most toxic substances that affects people in large numbers. Amalgam is the largest source of mercury. As amalgam is the number one source of mercury production, dentists and dental students are at a very high risk of mercury poisoning due to repeated exposure to dental amalgam. This study intends to assess the knowledge and awareness levels among dental students of mercury toxicity and its potential risks, and the various disposal methods for amalgam. Though most of the students were aware of mercury toxicity and amalgam disposal methods as a whole, only a handful were aware about the absorption efficiency rate and the critical threshold of mercury, which was as low as 20.83% and 21.66% respectively. Almost 50% of the students interviewed had answered less than 8 out of 15 questions correctly. It is recommended that more effective methods for delivering information regarding mercury, its complications and management are deviced. Top Keywords Mercury toxicity, amalgam disposal, dental students, knowledge and awareness. Top |