On World Mercury-Free Dentistry Week Phase-out Mercury use in Dentistry Now!: Green and safer alternatives exist

By Angelica Pago
(63) 915-9260371/angelica@bantoxics.org

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - “Patients have the right to know what’s being put inside their mouths.”

Marie Marciano, Chief Operations Officer of BAN Toxics! (BT) said as the group expresses solidarity for the celebration of the International Mercury-Free Dentistry Week on September 15-21, 2013.

“Silver fillings should correctly be called mercury fillings, as there’s more mercury in these fillings than silver.”

Marciano said that the use of mercury has been popular in the past only because alternatives are few and information was insufficient.

Although there is now a ban on using mercury and mercury-containing equipment and products in health care facilities in the Philippines through Department of Health’s Administrative Order 21, mercury in the dental sector, particularly dental amalgam, is not clearly mentioned.

An amalgam is used for dental fillings and is composed of 50% mercury, together with other metals such as copper, tin, silver and zinc. It is the greatest source of mercury in humans who have it.

“When we realize the environmental and health hazards caused by mercury, I am sure that we will opt to use mercury-free alternatives,” Marciano added.

The Department of Health is preparing a plan to phase out amalgam in three years. Environmental groups such as BAN Toxics! are urging the government to phase out the poison sooner than later.

“We urge the government to make the timetable shorter and faster for the phase-out. The sooner we eliminate mercury use, the sooner we can enjoy the environmental and health benefits of a mercury-free society,” said Marciano.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lillian Lasaten-Ebuen of the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology-Philippines (IAOMT – Philippines) said that while we are

pushing for a phase out, “we should also push for the restriction of importation, distribution, and sale of mercury for dental use.”

“It does not make sense to phase-out its use in one sector and continue its importation,” Dr. Ebuen said.

Dr. Ebuen also said that mercury-free alternatives has always been available, such as the resin-based composites, Glass Ionomers for Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART technique) which are also durable more practical, and economically affordable.

“It’s just a matter of upholding  the patients’ right to information and option to choose tooth fillings that are less invasive and ultimately better for health and environmentally friendly, “ Dr Ebuen added.

BT and IAOMT-Philippines listed what we can do to prevent the spread of mercury poisoning and achieve mercury-free dentistry in the Philippines: 

a. Stop the use of amalgam for children.

b. Make consumers and parents aware that amalgam is 50% mercury; they will choose alternatives! 

c. Change the dental school curriculum to teach the alternatives and stop teaching amalgam.

d. Re-train dentists and update their understanding of toxins, such as mercury; half of the Philippine dentists have changed already, and the other half could, too!

e. Change insurance policies and coverage to favor mercury-free alternatives. 

Mercury is a heavy metal occurring in several forms, all of which can cause toxic effects to humans, plants and animals.  Poisoning can result from vapor inhalation and ingestion.

Symptoms include sensory impairment, disturbed sensation and lack of coordination. It can cause permanent neurological, gastrointestinal, and renal damage, as well as several other diseases, foremost of which is the Minamata disease, acrodynia, and Hunter-Russell syndrome.

“The use of mercury is better left in the past.   As health practitioners, dentists should be looking for progressive and safer ways of treating our patients, and this means zero mercury,” states Ebuen.