[Amalgam separators: nearly half are defective! The results of a survey]

By means of a questionnaire sent to 1615 dentist practices in 9 Lander of the former West Germany, a survey has been organized of the efficiency of amalgam separators, which had been made compulsory on 1 January 1990. Only 51% seems to be operating without any defaults. The frequency and the nature of the defaults, as well as the cost-price of the repairs have been analysed per type of separator. Separator noise and vibrations are due to the construction. Erroneous sensor signals are contributed to insufficient sealing. Sometimes there is the sensor sensitivity to foaming blood. In order to keep the maintenance related defects to a minimum, the manufacturers have tightened the maintenance instructions up to an unrealistic level. The dentists wonder whether the reliability of these expensive tools (worth an average of 75,000 BF) cannot be improved. More in particular, they demand more reliable electronic sensors, and the rotor as receptacle is only found satisfactory in limited practice circumstances. There is a demand for polyvalent, more reliable amalgam separators.