Nordic countries experienced some initial resistance from the dental industry and this was largely because they were:
1. Unaware of the environmental impacts of mercury from amalgam, and the social benefits of reducing mercury emissions.
2. Reluctant to invest in new equipment required to reduce mercury pollution or to support mercury-free fillings.
Environmental pollution is responsible for 35 % of human diseases in Sub Saharan Africa compared to 25% worldwide (NEP/WHO health and environment interactions).
Africa has poor infrastructure for managing wastes generally and mercury wastes in particular.
The African region has put her weight behind a proposal that seek an amendment to Annex A to the Minamata Convention on Mercury by moving dental amalgam from Part ll to Part l of Annex A.
I. Amalgam (50% mercury) is an environmental disaster, a health risk, and a workplace danger.
II. Superior to amalgam, the alternatives are 21st-century dentistry for Africa
III. Across Africa & the world, big successes + enormous progress!
Africa Shall Be the 1st Continent To Phase Out Amalgam
The West African Summit on Phasing Out Amalgam was held in Abuja on 20 May 2014, bringing together NGO leaders from the ECOWAS nations of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, plus also from Tanzania. They adopted the Abuja Declaration, then invited NGO leaders from across Africa to join as signatories.
Cognisant of the fact that mercury, which is used in dental amalgam, is a restorative material that is approximately 50% elemental mercury,1 and is a notorious heavy metal of global concern that is known to be a potent poison of the human nervous system.2
Highlight:
Environmental and human health impact of mercury in dental amalgam
Caries Management Pathways
Caries activity and risk assessment
Caries Management by risk assessment
ICDAS-ICCMS caries management pathway
Minimum Intervention Dentistry in General Dental Practice (Brostek and Walsh)