Dentists urged to stop using mercury in children’s fillings

Brussels – European NGOs are calling on dentists to implement immediately the upcoming ban on mercury dental fillings for children and pregnant women.

Yesterday, the EU Council adopted the revised mercury regulation, including a partial ban on mercury in dentistry on the back of huge support from the European Parliament who voted in favour of the proposals 663 to 8. The proposals, supported by the Parliament, included a partial ban on amalgam in dentistry as it is 50 per cent mercury.

However, the ban on use of amalgam in children under 15, pregnant and breastfeeding women does not come into effect until 1 July 2018.

We are now calling on this ban to be applied by dentists immediately.

“With the ban to protect Europe’s children coming in one year, we call on Europe’s dentists to start observing the ban now,” says Charlie Brown, president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry. “21st century dentistry is mercury-free dentistry and Europe’s children deserve nothing less.”

“The EU decision for a partial amalgam ban for vulnerable populations acknowledges clearly the environmental danger from the mercury use in dentistry” says Elena Lymberidi-Settimo of the European Environment Bureau. “Dentists should apply it straight away also to protect children and other vulnerable people. It is positive that there is movement away from mercury in dentistry. The requested 2020 review on the feasibility of a total ban on mercury by 2030, although quite late, it still sends a clear message that we are heading towards the end of dental mercury.”

“The new law is a wake-up call to the parents of Europe,” says Philippe Vandendaele of Health Care Without Harm Europe. “Every parent of a child under 15 should, from this day forward, insist on mercury-free dentistry for their child, as should every pregnant and breast-feeding woman.”

“The Member State governments should instruct dentists to stop amalgam use on Europe’s children immediately rather than waiting until July next year. Dentistry is a major source of environmental mercury pollution, which is causing a child brain drain in Europe and elsewhere,” says Génon K. Jensen, Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL).