Extracted teeth with amalgam are considered what type of waste?

• A. Dual
• B. Infectious
• C. Hazardous
• D. Chemical

Answer: (A)

Waste from extracted teeth that contain dental amalgam carries both biological and chemical hazards. The tooth can harbor bacteria and blood, making it infectious waste, while the amalgam contains mercury, a regulated hazardous chemical. When waste meets both criteria, it is categorized as dual waste, which is why this item is treated as both infectious and hazardous. Treating it only as infectious or only as hazardous would miss the other hazard, so the dual classification best captures the full regulatory risk. Handle and dispose of these items following both infectious waste and hazardous waste procedures to prevent infection transmission and mercury exposure.