LONDON – The British Dental Association (BDA) believes that the signing of a globally-binding treaty on the use of mercury is a sensible outcome that recognises the practicalities of improving oral health. The treaty was endorsed at a meeting in Minamata, Japan, on 10 October. It requires nations to phase down the use of dental amalgam fillings, of which mercury is a component, over an appropriate period of time.
The signing of the treaty follows years of discussion by the United Nations’ Environmental Programme’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (UNEPINC). During those discussions BDA lobbying stressed the importance of avoiding a complete phase-out of the use of mercury in dentistry, particularly in a short timeframe. The BDA warned that more time is needed both for preventive oral health initiatives to be implemented and show results, and for suitable alternative filling materials to be developed.
BDA representatives Drs Stuart Johnston and Susie Sanderson, both members of the organisation’s Principal Executive Committee, led international lobbying on behalf of dental associations around the world. The final terms of the treaty were agreed at a meeting of UNEPINC held in Geneva in January.
Dr Johnston, who led the World Dental Federation Amalgam Task Team during the talks, said: “We welcome the fact that this treaty strikes a sensible balance between the very understandable imperative to reduce global mercury emissions and the need to have the tools available for dental professionals worldwide to continue the fight to improve oral health.
“It takes a holistic view that recognises both the unique contribution that dental amalgam – a hard-wearing, safe and long-lasting material used in dental restorations – makes in dentistry, while also acknowledging the importance of reducing mercury emissions from all sources, including from far more significant industries including coal burning and gold mining.
“Importantly, it also acknowledges the crucial role that preventive oral health programmes can make to reducing need and demand for fillings.”
MANCHESTER, UK: The British Dental Association (BDA) in London has announced that extra security measures have been put in place for its upcoming conference...
HARLOW, UK: Now that many questions regarding COVID-19, including its symptoms, risks and recovery time, have been answered, researchers are faced with a ...
The evolving socio-demographics of patients means dentists must be better equipped to identify oral signs of systemic diseases and treat elderly patients ...
A new method of controlling inflammation and sugar levels for oral and systemic disease prevention using a common diabetes drug has been discovered by a ...
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: “For a lab, every second counts,” according to Lee Culp, certified dental technician and CEO of Sculpture Studios, a dental ...
BELÉM, Brazil/RUGBY, UK: A recent study has investigated the association between stroke and periodontitis, one of the most common human diseases affecting ...
MANDAUE, Philippines: Four volunteers working with Dentaid, a dental charity that provides essential dental care to people in the UK and to people in many ...
LONDON – British researchers have developed a device that takes the pain out of tooth decay treatment by electrically reversing the process to help ...
LONDON, UK/ZURICH, Switzerland: Inventor of the All-on-4 treatment concept Dr Paulo Malo from Portugal is only one of the world-renowned experts that has ...
KOBLACH, Austria: Amann Girrbach is all about supporting laboratories in the organisation of digital dental workflows. With the AG.Live digital platform, ...
Live webinar
Fri. 19 July 2024
1:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Tue. 6 August 2024
11:00 pm UTC (London)
Live webinar
Wed. 14 August 2024
12:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Wed. 14 August 2024
5:30 pm UTC (London)
Live webinar
Wed. 21 August 2024
2:00 pm UTC (London)
Dr. Jim Lai DMD, MSc(Perio), EdD, FRCD(C)
Live webinar
Thu. 29 August 2024
1:00 am UTC (London)
Live webinar
Mon. 2 September 2024
10:00 am UTC (London)
To post a reply please login or register