Frequently Asked Questions

“M.A.R.S.” is not similar to any other providers. If it is a separator issue, “M.A.R.S.” will resolve it at no charge to the customer. We stand behind our “BOSS” 100% for the duration of its service life. However, if we come to the office and prove the separator was not the cause, then our standard service charge will apply, payable at the time of service.

FIRST – call “M.A.R.S.”. Technicians that do not usually handle or install the “BOSS” do not know how to determine the status of the “BOSS”. If your Technician’s company does not distribute the “BOSS”, he or she cannot have the knowledge to make that claim.

Under normal operating conditions, the service life is guaranteed.

When “M.A.R.S.” started, we used a 1 year service life for every office setting. Because that was the stated life of our media.

As separators were changed out, we noticed that many separators were able to last longer in smaller practices.

We started to look at factors that would allow the separators to last longer; number of Dentists and Hygienists, also how busy the practices were. We then found, through research and development, a way to make our media blend last longer.

We concluded that our separators could last longer and based on these observations and calculations we came up with; up to 3 years service for 1 – 3 chairs, up to 2 years service for 4 – 9 chairs, and up to 1 year service for 10 – 16 chairs.

To date, we have not had any complaints nor have we EVER caused a suction problem with proper usage.

To the best of our knowledge, we are the ONLY company that can say that.

The environmental impact of mercury is measured in parts per trillion. This is why the regulations regarding mercury in wastewater have decided that the removal or placement of any amalgam requires an amalgam separator. Even the discharge of small amounts can do damage to the local environment.

Yes. The installation process is quite simple. Anyone with some mechanical aptitude can install our amalgam separator by following the enclosed instructions. (link to 6.)

If you run into a problem or have questions you can call our Technical staff for help.

Several things will happen simultaneously:

• the area around the “BOSS” and a lot of your office will be filled with the smell of bio matter
• you will immediately start breathing bacteria laden air
• you may just have exposed yourself to toxic methyl-mercury
• resealing the “BOSS” properly is now very difficult and you have risked damaging your suction
• your warranty just became VOID.

When filters are changed (even with the suction left on) there is a small spill. “M.A.R.S.” finds any exposure, even small ones, are unacceptable. The “M.A.R.S.” service life is reflective of what is going on in your practice which means the Dentist need not spend time checking the separator to see if it is full. “M.A.R.S.” gives you a guaranteed date based on your business.

“M.A.R.S.” has heard from too many practices that were told the filter would last a year only to have it changed 3 times. Saying that a filter will last a year or until it is full, is like saying that a tank of gas will last for 1,000 miles or until you run out of gas.

Within 30 days of the end of its scheduled service life, our office will contact you to set-up a date for the separator to be replaced. As our amalgam separator is “No Maintenance”, we will only visit your practice at the end of its service life (1 to 3 years). The “BOSS” line of amalgam separators are NEVER opened in the dental facility. This is done to eliminate any possibility of pathogens or mercury vapours being released from the separator. Ask yourself this question, “Do I want to inhale anything that has been in an amalgam separator?” “Installation” plus Proper Installation Diagram

Service of an existing “BOSS” separator should only take 10 to 15 minutes.

Replacement of a non-“M.A.R.S.” system may take an hour or less, dependent on the system being replaced. “Installation” plus Proper Installation Diagram

“M.A.R.S.” sends the facility a Certificate of Compliance after the installation and payment has been received. The Certificate of Compliance should be kept in the facility for up to three years (length of its service life).

It is very important because as the flow rate decreases it allows more time for the contaminants in the wastewater to settle into the collection chamber. As flow rates increase this settling time is reduced and the efficiency of the separator is reduced accordingly. This is why “M.A.R.S.” has selected a flow rate of 750ml/minute. This flow rate will easily handle up to 16 chairs.

It is important to buy an amalgam separator that has been designed and certified under realistic operating conditions. ISO 11143 testing is performed at the manufacturer’s suggested flow rate and the separator is them certified according to that flow rate. A separator with a flow rate of 50 ml/minute (1 chair) may achieve a 99% efficiency rating however when that same unit is asked to process 500 ml/minute (10 chairs) the efficiency will drop significantly.

Mercury can change from solid to liquid to vapour depending on its surroundings. Capturing amalgam waste at the source is the only way to prevent the release of mercury into the environment. Once released into the sewer system mercury will find its way into our waterways, where it enters the food chain. What starts out as stable, encapsulated mercury in the amalgams will convert to a form of mercury toxic to humans and aquatic life. Based on information from the US Navy, biological activity in the sewer system can release mercury from amalgam.

1. Mark E. Stone, DDS, et al “Methyl mercury Content in Dental Unit Wastewater”, Naval Research Institute. Article available at: http://www.dentalmercury.com/publications.html

The following are all the amalgam wastes found in a dental practice:

• Amalgam capsule mixing waste

• Used or broken capsules

• Scrap amalgam carvings

• Extracted teeth with amalgam

• Chair side traps

• Vacuum line screens (Evac-u-traps) if improperly located

Download Installation Diagram

Modern high speed dental instruments create very fine mercury waste particulate when an old amalgam filling is removed. Traps, screens, filters and settlement chambers only collect larger particulate waste. Absorption onto ion exchange resin in the separator’s treatment chamber serves to bond with and capture dissolved mercury before it leaves the amalgam separator. Chemical chelating, then, prevents dissolved mercury from passing through the finest screen filters, literally collecting and keeping soluble mercury inside the amalgam separator.

Each dental practice is legally responsible for ensuring that an approved amalgam separator has been installed for a shared vacuum system. Communicate with the other dental practice(s) and the building owner to determine who is responsible for installation, maintenance, and compliance.

The beauty of “M.A.R.S.”‘ amalgam separator is simplified, self-contained and sealed. With no requirements for in-office decanting, or cartridge removals at the regular maintenance interval, there is no possibility of the danger and inconvenience of a mercury-spill.

Get a large dedicated and labeled container from your local waste hauler that can be sealed for transport and put your contact and non-contact waste in it. Check with your local waste hauler, if disinfectant is required inside the container.

Bleach dissolves mercury from amalgam and releases mercury into the evacuation lines, and then directly into the sewer system. In other practical terms, diluted bleach tends to corrode metals and may affect the integrity of non-metallic components of the chair and evacuation system, too. There are excellent alternative disinfectants to bleach.

“M.A.R.S.”‘ PowerLINZ evacuation cleanser uses 1.7% chlorhexidine gluconate, more than 2X the potency of some other brands. This active ingredient is very effective against mycobacterium tuberculosis, pseudomonas, staphylococcus, and other pathogens like hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV. Eco-friendly and 100% biodegradable, PowerLINZ is a powerful disinfectant that gives the more thorough and deep cleaning a vacuum system with an amalgam separator requires.

Every day! Biological growth can impair the amalgam separator’s performance leading to an increase in your practice’s mercury discharge. Recommended procedures vary, but NEVER USE BLEACH or other corrosive solutions!

Many practices keep a container of diluted PowerLINZ in every room so the evacuation lines can be cleaned with a few ounces before every new patient to avoid cross contamination between patients.

1. Hazardous Waste Disposal Log: Dental offices must keep records of all hazardous wastes generated onsite regardless of whether wastes are disposed off-site. Hazardous Waste Disposal Documentation must be kept for a minimum of three years. Keep a log on: wastes generated; wastes sent to recycling; wastes taken to a licensed hazardous waste site.

2. Amalgam Separator Maintenance Log: Amalgam separator units must be serviced regularly according to manufacturers’ recommendations to ensure proper efficiency. Contact your separator vendor for specific information about service requirements and frequency. A record of maintenance services along with date and type of service must be documented.

“M.A.R.S.” offers a Certificate of Compliance for your office files that certifies that the proper service was completed and your office is compliant.

3. Employee Training Log: A log of training activities must be kept to verify all employees have been trained in hazardous waste management.

Use a licensed hazardous waste hauler and recycling/disposal firms to take your wastes.

It is the practitioner’s responsibility to ensure that their waste hauler is licensed by the Ministry of the Environment. (“M.A.R.S.” MOE Lic.# 7147 6LZK4G)