U.S. Government Calls for Amalgam Phase-Out

This is huge news, finally amalgam where it belongs,
in the history books:

U.S. government calls for the phase-out of amalgam!
In an extraordinary development that will change the global debate about amalgam, the United States government has announced that it supports a “phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out by all Parties, of mercury amalgam.”  This statement – a radical reversal of its former position that “any change toward the use of dental amalgam is likely to result in positive public health outcomes” –  is part of the U.S. government’s submission for the upcoming third round of negotiations for the world mercury treaty.*

While couched in diplomatic hedging – remember it is still early in the negotiations – this new U.S. position makes three significant breakthroughs for the mercury-free dentistry movement:

1.  The U.S. calls for the phase-out of amalgam ultimately and recommends actions to “phase down” its use immediately.  Incredibly, the government adopted three actions that the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry and Consumers for Dental Choice proposed at the negotiating session in Chiba , Japan .  Our key ally, The Mercury Policy Project, had laid the groundwork for this success at a World Health Organization meeting in 2009!

2.  The U.S. speaks up for protecting children and fetuses from amalgam, recommending that the nations “educat[e] patients and parents in order to protect children and fetuses.”

3. The U.S. stands up for the human right of every patient and parent to make educated decisions about amalgam.

What does this mean?  Our position – advocating the phase-out of amalgam – is now the mainstream because the U.S. government supports it.  Who is the outlier now?  It’s the pro-mercury faction, represented by the World Dental Federation and the American Dental Association.  With the U.S. continuing its leadership role in this treaty, we will broadcast the U.S. position to other governments around the world, encouraging them to support amalgam “phase downs” leading to phase-outs not only globally, but within each of their countries.

We applaud the U.S. government.  But tough work lies ahead.  For example, we must demonstrate to the world that the available alternatives – such as composites and the adhesive materials used in atraumatic restorative treatment (“ART”) – can cost less than amalgam and increase access to dental care particularly in developing countries.

For now though, let’s mark this watershed in the mercury-free dentistry movement: the debate has shifted from “whether to end amalgam” to “how to end amalgam.”

Charles G. Brown
National Counsel, Consumers for Dental Choice
President, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry
5 April 2011

* Full text available at http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/Documents/INC3/United%20States.pdf  Here is the excerpt on amalgam:

“We are aware that several delegations at INC-2 suggested mercury amalgam should not be included in Annex C, noting a number of difficulties and complexities related to this issue. The United States supports further consideration of dental amalgam by the INC such that the agreement is able to achieve the phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out by all Parties, of mercury amalgam upon the development and availability of affordable, viable alternatives. To the extent that Annex C is not structured to accomplish such a goal, the United States believes that a number of obligations could be considered within an appropriate operative paragraph of the agreement itself. Such a paragraph could commit Parties to phase down the use of mercury amalgam or address mercury releases through conducting and promoting further research on alternatives, mandating the use of separators in dental offices, promoting and incentivizing prevention strategies, educating patients and parents in order to protect children and fetuses, and training of dental professionals on the environmental impacts of mercury in dental amalgams, and to report on their progress in doing so to inform the Conference of the Parties on the progress being made to phase down amalgam use.”

Mercury

For over one hundred years in this country, the dentist has taken care of the mouth, while the physician has taken care of the rest of the body. When I was in dental school, nothing much had changed for a hundred years, and aside from some white dental materials, that is still the case. I know that in my practice we are always talking about what oral issues affect (other) body issues and what systemic issues may show up with an oral presentation.

Most dentists no longer place silver fillings, but that is because most patients no longer expect nor desire them and not for the most salient reason: they contain and give off a highly neuro-toxic element, mercury. Some dentists still hold the old party line, which is that the mercury doesn’t come out of the filling.

Truth is, according to countless studies, the mercury comes out of the filling as mercury vapor.  It is then swallowed, inhaled, and exhaled (second-hand mercury, hmmmm). Granted, we could debate whether or not it is a significant enough amount to create illness. But, given the choice, why take the chance. Mercury-amalgam-silver fillings have no place in our mouths. Most people would be prudent to have these fillings removed.