Worldwide ban on mercury amalgam fillings

Dental amalgam—‘silver’ fillings that are part mercury—will soon be a thing of the past.

There will be a worldwide ban by 2034, by which time the material cannot be manufactured, imported or used in dental clinics.

Although only a handful of dentists still use amalgam, their supplies may dry up before then as the major manufacturers will stop making it by 2028.

The decision—which is the culmination of a decades-long campaign by mercury-free dentistry groups—has been made by the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

“This is the moment the dental profession worldwide begins the final transition to mercury-free practice,” said Dr Graeme Munro-Hall, Chief Dental Officer for the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry.  “By ending global manufacture and trade, the Convention has ensured that the next generation of dentists will be trained and equipped only for modern, safe, and sustainable materials.”

There has already been a complete ban in countries such as Sweden and Norway, while others, such as Germany, restrict its use and vulnerable people such as pregnant women are giving a safer alternative.

Amalgam, which is 50 percent mercury, has been used as a filling in dentistry for 150 years, but it leaks into the body and has been linked to neurodevelopmental problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive problems and chronic fatigue.

It also has an environmental impact and amalgam waste can make its way into waterways and the air we breathe.

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