Up-cycling the dental waste materials: Going green in dentistry

The depletion of natural resources due to the extensive use of various materials in dentistry is a growing concern. A significant contributor to this issue is the lack of recycling practices, leading to the continuous exploitation of these resources. This research aims to explore simple yet effective scientific techniques to up-cycle common dental materials while maintaining their properties. The focus of modern practices should align with the 3R's-Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. In dental institutions and clinics, materials like dental plaster and dental stone, extensively used for pouring impressions, are completely discarded as waste. This study involves collecting these waste products and evaluating their properties for potential reuse. Additionally, endodontic materials such as stainless steel hand files and rotary Ni-Ti files, typically discarded, can be recycled in metallurgical departments and repurposed into custom-made cast posts and titanium posts, respectively. The wisdom tooth crush technique is explored for its application as autologous graft material in filling bone defects. Discarded alginate impressions, widely used in Prosthodontics, are heated and repurposed as a denture polishing agent and as a fertilizer in agriculture. Excess glass ionomer cement, a common restorative material, can be repurposed into polishing cones and powders, or used as a polishing agent with rubber cups and buffs. Modeling wax, predominantly used in occlusal rim fabrication, can be collected and purified, with 90% of it recoverable without compromising its properties. Finally, discarded dental burs can be repurposed to splint implant impression copings, aiding in the accurate transfer of orientation, a critical step in implant prosthodontics. This study advocates for the adoption of recycling practices in dental colleges and among practitioners to manage and reuse the waste generated in the field. By doing so, the treatment cost can be reduced by 30-40%, and natural resources can be conserved, contributing to the preservation of the Earth's resources.