info@biomedres.us   +1 (502) 904-2126   One Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 300, Westchester, IL 60154, USA   Site Map
ISSN: 2574 -1241

Impact Factor : 0.548

  Submit Manuscript

Review ArticleOpen Access

Phase-Down of Amalgam Use in Dentistry: A Perspective For its Effective Control and Management

Volume 1 - Issue 6

Loto AO* and Menakaya

  • Author Information Open or Close
    • Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Nigeria

    *Corresponding author: Dr. Loto AO, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Received: October 27, 2017;   Published: November 03, 2017

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000494

Full Text PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

Mercury pollution of the environment and its negative impacts on the health of humans had been recognized many years ago by the world community; and the contribution of dental amalgam, which contains about 50% of mercury by weight, to mercury pollution is well established. Ten percent (10%) of 300 - 400 metric tons of world’s consumption of mercury is by dental profession in the form of dental amalgam fillings. The Minamata Treaty or Convention, on control and reduction of mercury pollution, provides for amalgam phase-down over a given time-line as part of the process of total elimination of mercury use in restorative dentistry. The amalgam phase-down approach is based on the fact that outright ban on the use of dental amalgam by nations of the world may be impossible because of individual nation’s peculiarities. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review mercury pollution of the environment and discuss the challenges as well as developing a National Strategic Plan (NSP) in managing amalgam phase-down process.

Keywords: Amalgam; Mercury; Pollution; Strategy; Phase-Down; Treaty

Abstract| Introduction| Conclusion| References|