Which method is typically employed for the disposal of contaminated waste in a dental practice?

The commonly employed method for the disposal of contaminated waste in a dental practice is incineration. This process involves the burning of waste at high temperatures, which effectively destroys pathogens and hazardous materials that can be present in contaminated dental waste.

In a dental setting, waste can include items such as used gloves, syringes, and other materials that may be contaminated with blood or bodily fluids. Incineration is favored because it reduces the volume of waste and ensures that infectious agents are rendered harmless through the high-heat destruction process.

Other methods like landfill, recycling, and composting are not suitable for contaminated dental waste. Landfill disposal can pose environmental and health risks if contaminated materials leak or leach into the ground. Recycling is typically reserved for non-contaminated materials, and composting is not appropriate for dental waste at all, as it could introduce pathogens into soil and potentially harm the environment and public health.