The safety of dental amalgam and alternative dental. Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. Amalgam is approximately 50 percent mercury by weight. Some countries have banned the use of dental amalgam for health or environmental reasons. Right from the start, the use of amalgam was controversial. The use of preencapsulated amalgam has reduced the potential for mercury exposure during routine dental procedures. Most people recognize dental amalgams as silver fillings.
Su kung 659 ad mentioned the use of a mixture in the material medica. Quantification of mercury emissions from cremation of. For detailed supporting regulatory documentation and more information about the best management practices for scrap dental amalgam, call dep at 850 4880300 or visit the dep web site p. On mercury from dental amalgam its toxic and allergic. Although they are sometimes referred to as silver fillings, amalgam fillings are actually made from a combination of metals that make it the most effective and popular filling material used in dentistry for the last 150 years. Dental amalgam is a dental filling material which is used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay.
The measurement and estimation of dental amalgam mercury load within the mouth, prior to death and cremation, provides an important opportunity to accurately predict and manage mercury emissions. Definition amalgam is a special type of alloy in which mercury is one of the component 3. Mercury incorporated into intact solid fillings has been considered to be inert. In europe, johannes stokers, a municipal physician in ulm, germany, recommended amalgam as a filling material in 1528. Read pdf on mercury from dental amalgam its toxic and allergic effects and some comments on occupational hygiene element which is used in dental amalgam points covered are. Massdep dental amalgammercury recycling program mass.
The mercury in amalgam is contained, or sequestered, within the filling. Mercury in dental amalgam is a hidden source of global mercury pollution, resulting from the illegal diversion of dental mercury into the artisanal and smallscale gold mining sector, to crematoria emissions from the deceased and sewage sludge that is sold to farmers. People who might be concerned about dental amalgam because it contains mercury can be reassured that credible scientific studies show no cause for alarm. The subject of risk assessment is essential in the debate over whether the mercury exposure from dental amalgam is safe for unrestricted use. This paper focuses on the local toxic effects of amalgam and mercury from dental restorations. The department of environmental protection massdep in 2005 implemented a voluntary program in cooperation with the. So, having some contact with mercury through amalgam isnt all that much different from other daily exposures. Some concerns have been raised regarding possible toxicity. The amalgam filling contains the toxic metals copper, silver, tin, and trace amounts of zinc. How many chairs in your office are associated with dental amalgam. Cover letter to dental amalgam survey for the internet. Why am i being warned about potential exposure to mercury in dental amalgam fillings.
However in this format, mercury is bound into an inert, nontoxic form, and is not considered harmful to humans. The safety of dental amalgam and alternative dental restoration materials for patients and users 2 about the scientific committees three independent nonfood scientific committees provide the commission with the scientific advice it needs when preparing policy and proposals relating to consumer safety, public health and the environment. The application of proper mercury hygienic requirements together with monitoring of mercury vapours in the work. Antibiotics, testosterone, msg, asparatame, and glyphosate found in roundup all make mercury poisoning worse. Promoting the phase down of dental amalgam in developing. Pdf mercury contamination from dental amalgam anita. Amalgam separators are a practical, affordable and readily available technology for capturing mercury and other metals before they are discharged into sewers that drain to potws. When responding to safety concerns it is important to make the distinction between known and hypothetical risks. Exposure to mercury during pregnancy can affect brain development. A number of countries have taken action against the use of dental mercury amalgam fillings. For more detailed information and a full list of sources, download the iaomts. Mercury, which makes up about 50 percent of the compound, is used to bind the metals together and to. The mercury is then reused in new products, including dental amalgam. A comparative health risk evaluation 7 substitution of alternatives for mercury amalgam based on current evidence, therefore, the ultimate goal of a phaseout of virtually all usage of dental mercury is.
It is a major contributor of mercury in municipal wastewater. Opinion on the environmental risks and indirect health. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal in the environment and can exist in liquid, gas or solid form when combined with other metals. Since 1984, the ada has recommended use of precapsulated amalgam alloy. Mercury and mercury compounds are on the proposition 65 list because they can cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Dental amalgam represents the secondlargest useof mercury in the eu, after its use in the chloralkali industry. This has caused discussion about the risks of mercury in dental amalgam.
Periodically throughout its history concerns have been raised about the potential human health effects due to the inhalation and absorption of mercury vapor from dental amalgam. Human oral mucosa is subjected to many noxious stimuli. Dental amalgam is a mixture of several metals, including mercury. In spite of the long history of mercury amalgam as a dental restorative material, its use continues to be controversial. Dean kent at partners in dental health explains how and the important process of detoxing the body from mercury toxicity. The debate about the safety of dental amalgam continues today. Mercury poisoning symptoms and dental amalgam fillings. Dental amalgam is an alloy used as a filling restorative material for tooth cavities caused by either decay, trauma, or other factors, and is composed of mercury, silver, tin, and copper, along with other metallic elements added to improve physical and mechanical properties ada, 2011. Amalgam wars third amalgam war began in 1980 primarily through the seminars and writings of dr. Although most dental offices currently use some type of basic filtration system to reduce the amount of mercury solids passing into the sewer system, dental offices are the single largest source of mercury at sewage treatment plants.
Definitionamalgam is a special type of alloy in which mercury is one of the component 3. Mercury is liquid at room temperature, it reacts with other metals that are in solid state, to form a plastic mass, which can be conveniently packed into a prepared tooth preparation. As new evidence has become available, this has been. Such mercury is emitted in minute amounts as vapor. A comparative health risk evaluation 7 substitution of alternatives for mercury amalgam based on current evidence, therefore, the ultimate goal of a phaseout of virtually all usage of dental mercury is recommended. If improperly managed by dental offices, dental amalgam waste can be released into the environment. Everyone is exposed to mercury through air, drinking water, soil and food. Understanding risk assessment for mercury from dental amalgam. Later, li shihchen 1578 chronicled a dental mixture of 100 parts mercury with 45 parts silver and 900 parts tin. More recently, other materials, such as composite resins, have provided dentists. Imerc fact sheet mercury use in dental amalgam this fact sheet summarizes the use of mercury in dental amalgam, including the total amount of mercury amalgam sold in the u.
Amalgam information required for facilities that work with dental amalgam 1. Mercury poisoning symptoms can arise from dental amalgam mercury fillings, also called silver fillings, as they continuously release mercury vapor. The ada recommends against the use of bulk elemental mercury, also referred to as liquid or raw mercury, for use in the dental office. Mercury filling toxicity dams dental amalgam mercury. Elemental mercury is the primary component of dental amalgam. Lowcopper amalgam commonly consists of mercury 50%, silver 2232%, tin 14%, copper 8% and other trace metals dental amalgams were first documented in a tang dynasty medical text written by su gong in 659, and appeared in germany in 1528.
Mercury in dental amalgam mercury in your environment us epa. One of these substances, in those who have restorations, is dental amalgam which contains mercury. Dental amalgam and the minamata convention on mercury. Mercury is used in dentistry in the filling material known as dental amalgam. Amalgam has been used to restore teeth affected by decay for more than a hundred years. The use of alternative materials such as composite. Dental amalgam is a liquid mercury and metal alloy mixture used in dentistry to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. It has been used for more than 150 years in hundreds of millions of patients around the world. Noncontact amalgam scrap is excess mix leftover at the end of a dental procedure. Dental amalgam danger exists because mercury fillings are associated with a number of human health risks. Mercury is used to bind the other compounds of dental amalgam together to form a hard, stable restorative material.
While it is true that those with dental amalgam fillings generally have higher levels of blood and urine mercury levels, it is important to note that slight increases in mercury exposure due to dental amalgam do not rise to a level of concern and are not expected to lead to adverse health effects. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Dental amalgam was introduced as a restorative material over 150 years ago. The popularity of amalgam arises from excellent long term performance. Health concerns there is a lot of debate about health effects from the mercury in amalgam fillings. In the 2008 opinion on the environmental risks and indirect health effects of mercury in dental amalgam the scientific committee on health and environmental risks scher concluded that only a preliminary screening risk assessment was possible, based on existing knowledge at the time. Dec 15, 2016 if improperly managed by dental offices, dental amalgam waste can be released into the environment. Pdf oral lichenoid contact lesions to mercury and dental. Dental offices discharge mercury present in amalgam used for fillings. Dental amalgam is one of the major product uses for mercury. He was convinced that mercury released from dental amalgam was responsible for human diseases affecting the cardiovascular system and nervous system also stated that patients claimed recoveries from.
Dental amalgam is a mixture of a silver alloy with mercury. Dental amalgam is a mixture of 50% metallic mercury with other metals, and there is concern that mercury can be released as vapour, ions or fine particles, which can be inhaled or ingested. Mercury in dental amalgam is a hidden source of global mercury pollution, resulting from the illegal diversion of dental mercury into the artisanal and smallscale gold mining sector, to crematoria emissions from the deceased and sewage. What is the estimated wastewater flow rate, in gallon per day gpd associated with dental amalgam.
Lowcopper amalgam commonly consists of mercury 50%, silver 2232%, tin 14%, copper 8% and other trace metals. Scope the present fdi policy statement covers dental amalgam for tooth restoration in the light of the special provisions for a phasedown in its use, contained in the 20 minamata convention on mercury1. Dental amalgam is approximately 4050% elemental mercury, 25% silver and a 2535% mixture of copper, zinc and tin. Dental amalgam, an alloy of mercury and silver, has been in use for over 150 years for the treatment of dental cavities, due to its excellent mechanica l properties and durability. Occupational risk to oral health personnel a potential health risk to oral health personnel from mercury exposure exists if working conditions are not properly organised. Quantification of mercury emissions from cremation of dental. Mercury in dental amalgam mercury in your environment.
Dental amalgam is created by mixing elemental mercury 43 54% and an alloy powder 4657% composed mainly of silver, tin, and copper. Position statement of the american college of prosthodontists pdf link. There has long been an undercurrent of antiamalgam sentiment within the dental professionie, a mercuryfree movement. When the silver alloy and mercury are mixed, a chemical reaction. Dental practices and clinics release a significant amount of mercury into the environment when they dispose of waste from amalgam fillings in the trash or down the drain.
Dental effluent guidelines effluent guidelines us epa. In norway and sweden, dental amalgam is no longer in use. Once captured by a separator, mercury can be recycled. Since mercury is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment, everyone is exposed to mercury in some form, whether through the air, drinking water, soil or food. These significant mercury sources result in air, water, and food.
Illogical dental amalgam policy by who and unep british. Apr 19, 2015 amalgam wars third amalgam war began in 1980 primarily through the seminars and writings of dr. The information in the fact sheet is based on data submitted to the state members of the. Mercury vapour is continuously released from dental amalgam and is ultimately absorbed into a variety of tissues. Pdf mercury contamination from dental amalgam anita tibau.
Dental amalgam, also known as silver fillings, is a restorative dental product consisting of approximately equal amounts of elemental mercury and alloy powder. Dental amalgam apparently was first used by the chinese. The silver alloy is a fine powder that is composed mostly of silver, tin and copper, and sometimes zinc, palladium or indium. Best management practices for scrap dental amalgam. Mercury in dental amalgam and resinbased alternatives. Dental amalgam is an alloy composed of mixture of approximately equal parts of elemental liquid mercury and an alloy powder. Experimental data have demonstrated that the uptake, tissue.
Dental amalgam is the most widely used restorative material. Both alcohol and nicotine can bring temporary relief, so mercury in fillings can promote a reliance on and an addition to alcohol and smoking. Low levels of mercury released from dental amalgam. Public health and the environment july 2016 issue summary dental amalgam is an alloy made by combining silver, copper, tin and zinc with mercury. Overall, studies continue to support the position that dental amalgam is a safe restorative option for both children and adults. The concern is 1 how much mercury exposure is too much.