A matter of safety
Published: Tue, Aug. 12, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Tue, Aug. 12, 2008 05:44AM
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closeRegarding the Aug. 4 article "Man's court quest: the tooth, and nothing but the tooth":
Regardless of the opinions referenced in the article, extracted teeth are, in fact, medical waste. Health care providers are required to properly dispose of medical waste in appropriately constructed and labeled biohazard waste containers.
OSHA is a federal agency charged with overseeing the health and safety of employees in the workplace. OSHA does not determine whether a patient has a "right" to keep his teeth and has no regulatory authority to make decisions on "ownership" of body parts and organs removed during surgery or to interfere in the doctor-patient relationship.
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However, OSHA does have an interest in the safety of employees in the dental office and, as such, has classified extracted teeth as potentially infectious material (PIM). Dental employers are required by OSHA to minimize the unnecessary handling by their employees of PIM, such as needles, sharps and extracted teeth.
The standard of care for dentists practicing in North Carolina is to properly dispose of extracted teeth in appropriate medical waste containers. By responsibly disposing of PIM, dentists and other health care professionals can best serve their patients, protect their employees and minimize public health risks.
Scott A. Hum, D.M.D.
President, N.C. Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, Raleigh
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