Update on Dental Amalgam (last updated 2/22/2022)

In February 2021, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury published the Progress Report 2020, an overview of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. One of the topics noted in the report was the phase down of dental amalgam. Although no changes were made to the current phase down approach, the report encouraged Parties to “take more than two of the measures listed in Annex A, and requested Parties to submit information on the measures taken.” The parties submitted information on the implementation of these additional measures for the Secretariat which developed a summary document in preparation of the fourth conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP4) will be held in two segments: online (1-5 November 2021) and in-person (first quarter of 2022 in Bali, Indonesia). The Progress Report 2020 is available at:

https://www.mercuryconvention.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Minamata-Progress-report-2020.pdf Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

The Indian Health Service Division of Oral Health concurs or is already in compliance with 6 of the following 9 measures of the Minamata Convention on Mercury Part II: Products subject to Article 4, paragraph 3 regarding dental amalgam.

Minamata Convention on Mercury Annex A, Part II: Products subject to Article 4, paragraph 3

Mercury-added products: Dental amalgam

Provisions

Measures to be taken by a Party to phase down the use of dental amalgam shall take into account the Party’s domestic circumstances and relevant international guidance and shall include two or more of the measures from the following list:

(i) Setting national objectives aiming at dental caries prevention and health promotion, thereby minimizing the need for dental restoration;

(ii) Setting national objectives aiming at minimizing its use;

(iii) Promoting the use of cost-effective and clinically effective mercury-free alternatives for dental restoration;

(iv) Promoting research and development of quality mercury-free materials for dental restoration;

(v) Encouraging representative professional organizations and dental schools to educate and train dental professionals and students on the use of mercury-free dental restoration alternatives and on promoting best management practices;

(vi) Discouraging insurance policies and programmes that favour dental amalgam use over mercury-free dental restoration;

(vii) Encouraging insurance policies and programmes that favour the use of quality alternatives to dental amalgam for dental restoration;

(viii) Restricting the use of dental amalgam to its encapsulated form;

(ix) Promoting the use of best environmental practices in dental facilities to reduce releases of mercury and mercury compounds to water and land.

IHS Dental Amalgam Usage Data

Additional Resources

US FDA – Dental Amalgam Fillings https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/dental-devices/dental-amalgam-fillings Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

US FDA – Information for Patients About Dental Amalgam Fillings https://www.fda.gov/media/142415/download Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

US EPA - Frequently Asked Questions on the Dental Office Category Rule https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-12/documents/dental-office-category_frequent-questions_nov-2017.pdf Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Minamata Convention on Mercury – Text and Annexes https://www.mercuryconvention.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Minamata-Convention-booklet-Sep2019-EN.pdf Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Fourth meeting, Information on Dental Amalgam https://www.mercuryconvention.org/sites/default/files/documents/working_document/4_5_DentalAmalgam.English.pdf Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov