Phase-out of mercury-containing dental fillings gains momentum With the end of the first part of the fourth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP4), held online Nov. 1-5, the regulation of dental amalgam is coming into focus. The UN Convention calls
The WHO presented a Report of the Informal Global WHO Consultation with Policymakers in Dental Public Health (2021), which concludes that “The results of the consultation with policymakers in dental public health highlight that phase-down and even phase-out of use of dental amalgam is achievable,
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland has adopted a first plan of “Possibilities of reducing the use of dental amalgam in Poland – situation and national actions“. Unlike other European countries that have already decided to phase out the use of amalgam,
The World Health Organization published the 22nd WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and the 8th Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc). These lists now include Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC), an effective alternative to amalgam fillings with a convincing justification: In the
For the effective implementation of regulations, it is necessary to establish penalties in case of non-compliance. Penalties for misuse of mercury in dentistry may be found in various regulations such as Health Care Provider Acts, Public Health Regulations, Chemical Laws, or Environmental Protection Acts. In
On August 12, 2021, the Minamata Convention Secretariat published information on mercury-free alternatives to dental amalgam and on the implementation of additional measures by Parties to reduce the use of mercury in dentistry. It states that mercury-free fillings, such as composites or glass ionomer cements,
Measures to reduce the use of Dental Amalgam in Europe So far, the EU requirements as of July 1, 2017, have stipulated that dental amalgam is no longer allowed to be used for the treatment of deciduous teeth, of children under 15 years and of
Slovenia published a national plan to phase out the use of dental amalgam by 2030 in three steps: By Jan. 1, 2025 phase out the use of amalgam in adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 25. By Jan. 1, 2027 phase out the use of
On May 26 the new EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) entered into force and current approvals in line with the Medical Device Directive (MDD) will lose their validity by May 26, 2025, at the latest. Unlike the previous Directive, the MDR has direct validity and
