US dentists use much of country’s total mercury in products

Jeremy Booth, DTI

Fri. 15. May 2020

save

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla., U.S.: Dental amalgam accounted for 46.8% of the total elemental mercury that was used to make products in the U.S. in 2018, a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown. In that year, 9,287 pounds (4,212 kg) of mercury was used for dental amalgam in the U.S.—enough for millions of mercury-containing tooth restorations, the EPA report found.

“What this means is that mercury-containing dental fillings placed into people’s mouths constitute the largest use of the elemental form of this toxic substance,” commented Dr. Jack Kall, executive chairperson of the board of directors of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), in a press release.

“Mercury has been banned from a gamut of other consumer products and a growing number of countries are ending the use of dental mercury. Yet, it’s still being routinely used in the U.S., and most American dental patients aren’t even aware that their silver-colored fillings contain this mercury,” Kall continued.

The EPA report found that 540,000 pounds of elemental mercury and mercury compounds was used in the U.S. in 2018; around 22,000 pounds was used to make products that contain mercury, such as dental amalgam, sensors and fluorescent lights. Dental amalgam is made up of around 50% of the element and is the largest source of human exposure to mercury, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

The EPA report is the environmental watchdog’s first official inventory report on mercury supply, use and trade in the U.S. since it was mandated to publish such reports in June 2018, under the requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act. The IAOMT has publicized the report in order to draw attention to the use of what it called a known neurotoxin.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers dental amalgam restorations to be safe for adults and children over the age of 6

Since its founding in 1984, the IAOMT has examined the use of dental amalgam and provided information about the health risks to patients, dental professionals and the environment posed by its use. One of the resources it has made public is the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique, a set of recommendations that includes information about the release of mercury during the removal of dental amalgam restorations.

The EPA states on its website that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers dental amalgam restorations to be safe for adults and children over the age of 6.

What about the Minamata Convention?

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a United Nations treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from the harm caused by mercury emissions and compounds. It was first signed in October 2013, and 119 countries of the original 128 signatories have ratified it, including the U.S.

The treaty recognizes dental amalgam as a leading use of mercury in products, but parties have differed in their opinions on the phasing out of its use in dentistry. The European Union aligned its regulations to the convention by banning the use of dental amalgam restorations for breastfeeding women (unless medically necessary) and for children aged under 15. The ban came into effect in 2018.

A proposal by African countries for a global phasing out by 2024 of the use of dental amalgam for children aged under 15 and breastfeeding women was mooted at the last meeting of the conference of the parties (COP) to the convention, in November 2019. Concerns were reportedly raised about the timeline put forward within the proposal, and the parties agreed to reconsider the issue at the next COP meeting, which is to be held in 2021.

Tags:

One thought on “US dentists are using nearly half of country’s total mercury in products”

Paulo says:

June 1, 2020 at 9:45 pm

Tenho ainda em estoque cápsulas de Amálgama para uso, mas se tornou “fora de moda” aqui no Brasil restaurar dentes com esse material. Apesar de sua segurança, longevidade, os pacientes se recusam a ser tratados com essa alternativa. No início de minha carreira há 32 anos 60% das restaurações levavam o amálgama, hoje não chega a 0,5% . A “ditadura” da Estética e do risco de contaminação com o mercúrio baniu dos consultórios brasileiros essa opção barata e longeva. De vez em quando em consulta de rotina, ainda deparo com minhas restaurações de 30 ou mais anos em perfeitas condições. Não vejo tal desempenho com as Resinas Compostas, infelizmente estamos perdendo um grande aliado.

To post a reply please login or register

Particulate mercury is significant source of exposure to mercury in dental profession

HANNA, Alberta, Canada: Dental amalgam has been used for almost two centuries. Now, a recently published paper has investigated the amount of exposure to ...

Mercury-free Philippines—One dentist is making a difference

QUEZON CITY, Philippines: The Philippines Chapter of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology was founded by Dr Lillian Lasaten-Ebuen in ...

Dentist reported to police for using drone to take care of patient

WOMBOURNE, UK: In times of SARS-CoV-2, dentists are taking unusual measures to ensure that their patients receive medical care despite contact restrictions ...

Israel and its dentists are on lockdown

TEL AVIV, Israel: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the closure of most dental clinics in Israel, and a nationwide lockdown is in effect for the ...

US dentists retiring later

CHICAGO, US: Research from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute (HPI) shows that young US clinicians are now more likely to practise in ...

Dentist taps potential of cannabinoids in oral health with new products, research

MORTSEL, Belgium: After two decades of practising dentistry, Dr Veronica Stahl became frustrated about the lack of consumer products that combat dental ...

US dentists called on for urgent assistance

NEW YORK, U.S.: Dentists in the U.S. now find themselves at the epicenter of a pandemic, as they are being called upon to provide urgent assistance to slow ...

Why ergonomics and self-care are essential in dentistry

Advances in technology in dentistry have rapidly improved diagnostics, streamlined treatments and made the dental chair a safer, more comfortable place. ...

Dentists in Indonesia are dying from COVID-19

JAKARTA, Indonesia: The Indonesian Medical Association has confirmed that 24 medical professionals have died in the country from COVID-19, six of whom were ...

University of Otago produces second Māori graduate in periodontics

DUNEDIN, New Zealand: Māori make up over 17% of the New Zealand population and are twice as likely to develop severe periodontitis as non-Māori New ...

Education

Live webinar
Tue. 23 September 2025
10:00 am EST (New York)