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Mercury could be phased out from dentistry in Europe within five years.
The European Environmental Bureau and Mercury Policy Project welcomed a new study by the European Commission that suggests it’s best to eliminate dental amalgam during the next five years. The project will also focus on the improved enforcement of current waste legislation in Europe. The study recommends phasing out mercury usage in button cell batteries, as well.
Many studies worldwide have concluded that amalgam has negative long-term effects. Europeans countries like Sweden have already phased mercury. Denmark, Finland, Italy and the Netherlands have reduced its usage in a major way. Several other countries have some kind of policies in place to restrict mercury usage.
The positive thing for dentists is that mercury-free dental materials have become more prevalent in the past few years, while undergoing many improvements during the same stretch.
Based on research, the European Environmental Bureau recommends that mercury should be phased out as soon as possible.
In the United States, however, the opinion is different. There are some that dispute its negative long-term effects and there are no recommendations to completely phase it out as soon as possible.
