The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has created a pair of downloadable infographics about the use of dental amalgam among high-risk patients.
In September 2020, the FDA recommended that people who belong to certain high-risk groups avoid getting dental amalgam whenever possible due to the harmful effects of mercury vapor released by fillings. These groups include:
- Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Nursing women and their newborns and infants
- Children, especially those younger than 6 years old
- People with pre-existing neurological disease or impaired kidney function
- People who are sensitive to mercury, silver, copper, tin, or zinc
The infographics list these high-risk groups and note that while there are no known health risks associated with swallowing small particles of dental amalgam, breathing in mercury vapors may be harmful to certain populations.
Also, the infographics note that the FDA does not at this time support a ban on the use of dental amalgam, though alternatives are available. The FDA additionally does not recommend the removal of dental amalgam fillings. Further information from the FDA is available online.
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