BELFAST, UK: The phase-out of dental amalgam is currently taking place in a number of countries owing, in part, to its deleterious effects on the natural environment. The Northern Ireland branch of the British Dental Association (BDA) has released a statement requesting that the European Commission (EC) reconsider its plans for a complete amalgam phase-out by 2030, arguing that it might end up “exacerbating health inequalities” and “destabilising health systems already under considerable strain”.
Though amalgam has long been used as a material in dental restorations, its use can lead to negative consequences for the environment and, according to the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Union (EU), may pose a greater risk of potential harmful health effects for certain groups such as children and pregnant women. As a result, a report submitted by the EC to the European Parliament and Council recommended the complete phase-out of dental amalgam usage in the region, arguing that it is “technically and economically feasible before 2030”.
Since the report’s submission, the UK has left the EU, yet the proposed amalgam phase-out would still apply to dentists in Northern Ireland, according to the trade union. In its statement, BDA Northern Ireland argued that “a phase-down, rather than a phase-out, is the only viable way forward”.
“[D]entists must continue to have the full range of restorative materials at their disposal, and at present there is no direct replacement for amalgam for durability, cost-effectiveness and ease of use,” the association wrote.
BDA Northern Ireland added that COVID-19 “has dramatically altered the dental landscape, meaning that the feasibility study undertaken pre-pandemic must be reviewed in respect of the different context we find ourselves in”.
WHITE OAK, Md., U.S.: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its guidance for the use of dental amalgam in tooth restorations. The agency ...
GENEVA, Switzerland: To date, more than 100 countries have ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to curb the effects of mercury on ...
STRASBOURG, France: Amalgam is the restorative material of choice for many dentists. It is the gold standard of dental care. However, its popularity has ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Many individuals in Ireland who have difficulty in getting a National Health Service (NHS) dental appointment today will remember a time ...
GENEVA, Switzerland: The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held at the International ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Though the last two years have been rife with cancellations and postponements of dental congresses, a return to in-person events is slowly ...
LONDON, UK: While dental professionals across the world are hoping for the relaxation of lockdown restrictions and are anxious to reopen their dental ...
SACRAMENTO, Calif., U.S.: The use of dental amalgam contributes to mercury pollution and poses an environmental threat to ecosystems. In accordance with the...
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico/SPRING, Texas, U.S.: Mercury in dental amalgam is a hidden source of global mercury pollution, resulting from factors such as the ...
YORK, UK: Patients who struggle with severe mental illness (SMI) are three times more likely to face total edentulism than the general population, according...
Live webinar
Thu. 18 July 2024
8:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 6 August 2024
6:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 13 August 2024
7:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 21 August 2024
9:00 am EST (New York)
Dr. Jim Lai DMD, MSc(Perio), EdD, FRCD(C)
Live webinar
Wed. 28 August 2024
8:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Mon. 2 September 2024
5:00 am EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 3 September 2024
11:00 am EST (New York)
To post a reply please login or register